Exisle Publishing

Sometimes, when the world doesn’t make sense, we have to find our own way. Just like Spot the dot.

Meet Spot. A simple dot. A dot from what? Poor Spot forgot. Spot the Dot tells the story of a little dot trying to find where he fits in. When he realizes he’s forgotten where he came from, Spot goes on a journey of discovery, trying out all kinds of things to uncover his place in the world. Is Spot a lost sentence ending period? Or did he fall from a mushroom top? Along the way, Spot finds that there are many wonderful places where he might belong.

Simple, rhythmic and with graphic illustrations, Spot the Dot is a universal story about belonging and our individual search for meaning.

Your Writer’s Block Is Bullsh*t begins with a confession: the authors themselves avoided writing this book. From that honest starting point, psychologist Dr Vincent Fogliati and professional ghostwriter Roger Joyce invite readers on a transformative journey through the three acts of a writer’s creative life — fear, confrontation, and freedom. 

• In Act One – Your Writing World, they introduce the ACT Matrix, a tool that helps writers map their values, fears, and behaviors. Here, the reader identifies what truly matters about their writing, and why fear shows up exactly where passion lives. 

• Act Two – Dealing with Your Demons guides the reader through the painful but liberating process of “unhooking” from avoidance and self-criticism. Rather than banishing fear, the authors show how to coexist with it — with compassion, humor, and skill. 

• Finally, in Act Three – Showing Up to the Page, the book delivers what every creative person needs most: practical, evidence-based tools for consistency, presence, and courage. It’s where theory becomes action — the “show up with your mess” philosophy that underpins the entire work. 

Written in alternating voices — Vincent the psychologist grounding each principle, Roger the writer illustrating it through lived experience — the result is a rare blend of insight and relatability. The reader doesn’t feel lectured to; they feel understood. 

With forewords by Professor Paul Atkins, one of the world’s leading ACT scholars, and The Reverend Bill Crews AM on the human act of courage in creativity, this book transcends the “writer’s self-help” category. It’s about art, fear, and what it means to keep showing up when it matters most. 

For anyone who has ever said, “I’ll write when I feel ready,” this book is the wise, encouraging call to write now.

Tim loves his collection of dinosaurs—but one thing he’d love even more is a family of his own. 

Tim’s beloved dinosaur collection travels with him wherever he goes. But Tim travels a lot—he is a foster child and has to move from one family to the next all too often.  

Tim is always losing things, so when he moves in with the Lee family he doesn’t bother unpacking his dinosaurs in case they get lost when he has to move again. But one day he realizes he has lost something just as precious as his dinosaurs: his laugh. He doesn’t know where he lost it, but it definitely disappeared.  

The kind Lee family help Tim look for his laugh, but no one can find it anywhere. Then one day, some news arrives that might just help Tim find his laugh again. 

The Boy Who Lost His Laugh takes a sensitive look at foster care from the child’s perspective, and shows how humor and love can help you bounce back and find what you’ve been looking for all along.  

Ariana Treasure loves helping her friends and Maya definitely needs her help. There’s a talent show at school, but Maya thinks she has no talent. To add to Maya’s dilemma, she is desperate to impress her grandfather who is visiting all the way from Sri Lanka. Can Ariana help Maya discover her special talent before show day? Afterall Ariana knows we all have talents.

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had.

Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, courage, diversity and sustainability. With simple sentence structures, accessible vocabulary, familiar characters and relatable storylines, the stories in the Ariana Treasure series would suit eager beginner readers. Whether it be making new friends, saving a kitchen disaster or finding an act for the talent show, Ariana is ever ready to step up and help those in her community.

Fifteen-year-old Becca questions the influencer life that supports her family when an unexpected friendship in an online writing community challenges her to step into the 'real' life she craves.

Becca has been online influencer since she helped make promotional baking videos for her mom’s patisserie as a toddler. Now at fifteen, cutting online comments remind Becca she is no longer the cute flour-covered kid her followers first subscribed to. Her business-driven manager fuels Becca’s self-doubt by pressuring her to rebrand to a health and weight-conscious influencer. Becca vents her frustration in her poetry journal, questioning if the online life is worth sacrificing real friendships.

A teacher encourages Becca to sign up to the online writing community Poet’s Portal and there she meets @notmylife, another poster feeling trapped by family expectations. Becca and @notmylife confide in each other without giving away their identities and Becca feels like she has finally met someone who really understands her. When the two win a writing contest with their verse story 'Your dream not mine,' they receive entry to a writing workshop.

Becca and @notmylife agree to meet in person before the workshop. But Becca’s manager has booked her for a TV show on the same day as the workshop. Becca is torn as her influencer work supports her whole family. Now, she has to decide between the online life that’s never been her dream and the real-world connection she so desperately craves.

With teens increasingly aspiring to become online influencers, Like, Comment, Subscribe? aims to show the less glamorous side of the influencing lifestyle, particularly when the decision to be thrust in front of the camera is not made by themselves.
Rhiza Shorts are teen novellas for reluctant readers.

At the outbreak of World War I, eleven-year-old Elsie Clarke is shipped off to Wales to attend Miss Coleridge’s Academy for Gifted Youths. What at first appears to be an institution for talented academics soon reveals that ‘Gifted’ means something else entirely, and only the mysterious Madam Tryll holds the answers.

Only she can open the Gateway to The Place Where Lost Children Go – a sentient forest called Elsewhere with the power to enhance the talents, desires, and fears of unique souls. And then there’s Elsie, the newest Guardian, with the power to open the Gateways into Elsewhere, borrow Gifts in emergencies, and enhance other Gifts with her touch so that her Gifted friends can grow stronger. But Elsie’s powers are unpredictable and her new role as mentor comes with a lot of responsibility.

Meanwhile, the war rages on, and the headmistress believes the students are the solution. She intends to push them to their academic limit, training them in the art of war, stripping them of their childhood. The Gifted must use their newfound talents to bring down her awful regime and win a battle of their own. But with the war growing ever closer to home, Elsie can’t help but feel like Elsewhere has been recruiting them too, training them for something bigger than just school.

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had. Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, courage, diversity and sustainability. With simple sentence structures, accessible vocabulary, familiar characters and relatable storylines, the stories in the Ariana Treasure series would suit eager beginner readers. Whether it be making new friends, saving a kitchen disaster or finding an act for the talent show, Ariana is ever ready to step up and help those in her community.

Four years ago, Millie lost her baby brother Noah before he could be born. She writes a journal to him, exploring her memories and emotions, and thinks about him every day. When she learns her mother is pregnant again, she writes to him about her anxieties. What if the new baby dies like Noah did? Millie takes it upon herself to take care of her mum while she’s pregnant. She cooks, cleans, and brings her mum ginger tea when she feels sick in the morning. At school, she has two close friends, the bubbly extrovert, Charlie, and bookish introvert, Emma, who pull her in two directions. But Chappy Leeann is there to help her sort out her feelings. Working together to support their parents and the drought affecting their sheep farm, Millie grows closer to her older sister Vicky and learns to appreciate the things in her life. As Millie shares all her feelings with Noah, she reassures her precious stillborn baby brother that even after her new sibling is born, she will always be his sister. Throughout it all, Millie learns just how resilient and strong she really is.

This book contains an important message about the impact of stillborn children on the lives of siblings too, and highlights the importance of school chaplains in their ability to help children through their emotions. Siblings are often overlooked as they grieve the loss of an expected baby.

Join Ariana at the Treasure Chest – the best thrift shop in town!

Ariana is excited to hear there is a new kid in town. She can’t wait to show him around the Treasure Chest. Can Ariana use the treasures from the thrift shop to help make a new friend and find her missing book?

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had. Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, diversity, courage and sustainability.

Join Ariana at the Treasure Chest – the best thrift shop in town!

Come and find the secret ingredient. Ariana is excited for the food truck competition. Her friends, Hunter and Jake, are confident their family will win the big prize. All they need is a standout dish and thanks to the Treasure Chest they think they have it.

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had. Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, diversity, courage and sustainability.

Public speaking phenom, Lexie, is on her way to represent her school at the Speech state finals, with dreams of reaching nationals. But that is before a freckle on her cheek turns out to be a rare form of melanoma, skin cancer, that requires surgery. Now, with a large scar on her face, her world changes and she no longer recognizes herself.

Her confidence has vanished, her friendships are changing and the very thing she has always loved—public speaking—now strikes terror into her heart. When a chance encounter turns into an unexpected friendship, Lexie's feelings about her scar, and herself, are challenged. Can she find a way to explore her ordeal with her ambitions for winning the state Speech competition?

A relatable and easy read for teenagers and young adults about overcoming obstacles, navigating friendships and finding out that our worth is far more than just skin deep.

In an extraordinary stroke of luck, six high school students – Luke, Alex, Harriet, Meg, Kye, and outcast Cassie – find themselves thrust into unimaginable wealth after winning a staggering 50 million-dollar Megaball prize. Overnight, their ordinary lives transform into a world where anything is attainable, and shopping becomes difficult - not because you can’t afford anything, but because you can afford everything.

As the group begin to discover the truth behind their extraordinary good fortune, they unwittingly unravel a complex web of lies concealing not only their improbable win but also other so-called luck happening around them.

In this heart-pounding tale of wealth, deceit, and moral reckoning, the millionaires club find themselves entangled in a treacherous game where the price of fortune is higher than they ever imagined. As they attempt to shield their newfound riches and each other from the relentless pursuit of the truth, they begin to realize that luck can be far from good, and lies, once buried, have a way of clawing their way back to the surface.

In Ways to Die Right, Joel's life is steeped in loss, with his mom’s battle with cancer not the first time his family has faced death. When he discovers the environmental harm of traditional burials, he decides to champion 'green burials' through a science presentation.

Joel’s mom is diagnosed with cancer, again, sending him into a spiral. He is already feeling the burden of caring for his sister’s grave, how could he possibly care for his mom’s grave as well? Then, at the cemetery, his most sacred space, he is confronted by his arch-nemesis, Trent. While Joel is striving to understand how family members can ‘forget’ their loved one by abandoning their graves, Trent wants everyone to know that graves are an important part of our human community. When Joel is given the opportunity, he champions green burials in a science presentation. The public opposition from Trent is almost more than he can take. Joel is forced to fight for himself and his beliefs, while trying to hide his biggest secret. New and old friends support him in his quest to protect the environment and find peace, while his parents see his struggles and make changes to support him.

Tarni can’t wait for her Senior Prom and is counting down the days. She has a checklist for everything—the shoes, the makeup, the friends, the photos, and most importantly, the dress. But Tarni’s perfect dress is a whopping $950 and she has to work extra shifts at her job to pay for it. While she slowly marks off her checklist, the elusive dress remains too expensive. Beside the dance, she still has to pay for her driver’s license and driving lessons. Add on the pressure of trying to decide what she’s going to do once school is over, and Tarni is becoming a nervous wreck.

Then the worst happens, by the time she saves enough for the dress, it’s sold out. How can she find her perfect dress—and in the right size in time? And will she ever get a clue on what to do after school? She will have to rely on her fashion sense and courage to make her dreams come true.

Lord Derryk is in love with the foundling he and King Eirik discovered seventeen years ago. Then, he was but a child. Now, he is ready to court and marry her. Renata, however, believes she doesn’t belong and is unworthy of Derryk’s love. She tries to be a perfect wife, ultimately exhausting herself.

When temptation comes in the form of a professed friend, Iollan, she falls for his seductive lies, and betrays Derryk, breaking his heart.

Repeatedly, Derryk forgives and tries to draw her back. But Renata doesn’t believe Derryk can truly forgive or love her again. Renata continues be unfaithful, until Derryk signs a divorce.

Away from Derryk’s protection, Renata sees the truth about Iollan. At her lowest point, desperate, she returns to Eorden for help. She is offered a hut on the edge of his lands with only basic food to sustain her.

But Derryk has vanished and an army bears down on the kingdom. Iollan discovers Renata’s hideout and charges her with many crimes, including murder. Derryk’s servants are distraught, not knowing what to do.

The king arrives in time for the trial, where Renata is sentenced to death. At the last minute, Derryk steps out of the crowd and offers to take her punishment. What follows is a public hanging and a turn of events no one expects. Derryk’s love ultimately vanquishes all enemies and wins Renata’s heart forever in beautiful reconciliation.

Ben stays with Nan for the first time since Pa died. The family are still grieving, particularly Ben who adored his grandfather. Ben finds a note with a treasure map. It promises an adventure like many others he went on with Pa. But before the treasure hunt Benjamin discovers he is a descendant of the fierce pirate, Benito Bonito. The map promises to uncover the hiding place of Benito’s treasure. Ben and Nan embark on an exciting adventure using the map, but what they uncover is much more than they ever expected.   

The author’s note at the end gives a more detailed account of the legend of the Lost Loot of Lima and history into the real-life attempts made to uncover the buried treasure at Queenscliff.

This book was written to represent homeschoolers and the lesser known sport of campdrafting, as

well as to encourage teenagers who feel insecure socially that it is worth making the effort to break

out of their comfort zone. It provides an authentic look at a homeschooled male teen who needs to

learn to challenge himself, in sports, in life, and in his social skills.

Nick is a fifteen-year-old boy whose best friend is his little sister, and tends to be a bit of a loner.

While Nick is the older brother Nick finds that his little sister does better in the sport of campdrafting

than he does. He tends to get nervous, makes hasty decisions and stuffs up. He feels awkward around

the other competitors. But Nick decides to join a local swim squad, he wants to challenge himself to

make some friends. Along the way he discovers he’s a competitive breaststroker, and works out how

to fit in with a mixed group of teens, growing more independent in the process. The other 4 teens have

a variety of personalities - a super friendly guy, super self-confident guy, and two girls, one who

becomes very interested in campdrafting and later asks Nick for riding lessons. He becomes good

friends with one of the guys and goes to his place to ride motorbikes. The new mates come to see him

compete at a campdraft. He is more relaxed with the other competitors this time, and is more

successful in the competition.

This book is unlike most others on the market, and will appeal because of its unique nature. Many

teens may have wondered about homeschooling. Campdrafting is a unique Australian sport that many

may not have heard of. Actual homeschoolers will feel validated to see themselves represented

positively in literature.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet by Rosanne Hawke is a series of five story books featuring an adventurous black cat called Pepper Masalah, and her nine-year-old friend, Zamir.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zam’s grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasn’t flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and can’t find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

In the 5th book, the carpet flies Pepper Masalah and Zamir to Kashmir and lands in the aftermath of a modern-day earthquake. When Pepper is kidnapped and locked in an animal shelter by some thieves, she meets a snow leopard, a cat, and a woman named Jani, who reminds her of Zamir’s Dadi. Despite Pepper’s clever plan to release the animals and reunite with Zamir, the new group cannot evade the thieves. It seems only Jani will be able to help. Will Zamir and Pepper find a way to escape? Or will Jani’s secret change everything?

From Noahs Flood to the imprisonment of Paul the Apostle and everything in between, come on a journey through Bible times. Each story listed below is told through the eyes of characters which you may or may not recognise, as they face decisions and experience life-changing encounters.

The Gift: A lamb called Lucky discovers the most valuable treasure of all.

Is This How It Ends? After the trauma of surviving a worldwide flood, how would you react when it starts to rain again?

Burdens: A young boy must find a way to let go of the past and trust in a new hope and a new future.

LMort de Lazarus: Step inside Lazarus tomb and watch him raised to life from the other side.

Murder At My Feet: Eli has a choice – obey his father and watch another die, or save a mans life and risk the rejection of his family.

Claudia Procula: A recurring dream torments the wife of the most powerful Roman in Judea. Could it come true?

My Brother's Keeper: Joseph is responsible for wrecking his brother's life. Will he ever forgive himself?

What would you do if you were about to lose your best friend forever.

Grace the Amazing is a story that GLOWS. Quirky, original, and endearing, its filled with fun, laughter, tears, and totally relatable childhood moments that will forever find a place in your heart.

Grace Marshall is eleven years old. Shes curious and precocious, stubborn and determined, creative and eccentric. She dreams of becoming many things when she grows up, including a magician called Grace the Amazing!

Grace may be little, but she has big emotions and a million burning questions that demand answers. Her only friend is her art teacher, Pamela. When Grace discovers that Pamela is dying, the fragile certainties that existed in Graces world threaten to slip away. She embarks on a journey to find a cure for Pamela using miraculous magic and while doing so she asks the big questions about life, love, friendship, and death. Some of the answers she uncovers will surprise both Grace and readers.

Covering issues of family, friendship, finding yourself, mental health, love, loss, animals, brilliant teachers who can change your life, and everything in between. For ages 8+.

When Charlies grandmother is murdered, she is plunged into the world of the Temporal Sinistrum. A secretive organisation of time travellers tasked with maintaining the historical timeline. Her grandmother was once one of their star agents, and Charlie must step into her footsteps and solve the mystery of her death, in an adventure that takes her from Australia in 1966 to the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Los Angeles in 2120.

Charlie is a teenage girl, coming-of-age, across multiple timelines as she investigates her grandmothers past as part of the Sinistrum, while still dealing with her complicated feelings for the boyfriend she left behind in 2016.

This is a novel for fans of Dr Who, Marvel and Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children. Its for those who love big mind-bending adventures where the historical past of the Blitz and the Chernobyl disaster mixes with the dystopian future of Los Angeles and a cult sheltering in missile silo.

Until Michael Reeve shows up a prison guard unlike any other. What kind of turnkey shows compassion instead of cruelty, encouragement instead of scorn? He talks and acts like Olivia matters. Like her future matters. And hes not about to give up, despite opposition from every angle. Opposition that hints of danger ahead. Can Olivia learn to trust before its too late? Will Micks kindness lead to love, or will it be his undoing?

The Captives Song is an Australian retelling with elements of Rapunzel, complete with a tower, a long braid and a beautiful song.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zams grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasnt flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and cant find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

In the 4th book, the carpet flies Pepper Masalah and Zamir back in time to find its original owner in Moghul India, who is none other than the ailing Emperor Shah Jahan. They land in Lahore and find the Lahore Fort where a magician is doing a disappearing rope trick. Pepper climbs the rope to escape a bazaar dog and their problems start in earnest. They have arrived in Hindustan at a time of intrigue and Zam is accused of stealing the carpet and is put in the dungeon. How will Pepper and her new friends rescue him? And how can they return home without the carpet? They are lost in time.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zams grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasnt flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and cant find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.
In the 3rd book in this series, Pepper Masalah and the Giant Bird, the ancient carpet is closer to finding Kashmir and flies over Afghanistan. A huge bird (the Simurgh from Persian folklore) whisks Pepper off the carpet and up to her nest of eggs, high on a mountain. The carpet is disorientated without Pepper and disappears after Zam falls off. Zam makes the long climb to save Pepper before she becomes food for the birds huge chicks. Pepper makes a friend in the nest, a girl called Dana. A cobra comes to eat the eggs.
Pepper manages to save the eggs by telling the cobra riddles and winning the riddle game. But Pepper and Zam still need to find the carpet in order to get home to Australia.

After a day full of his antics at school, the monsters climb out of the window and try to kidnap Jerry and drag him underground. Terrified, Jerry screams he will be good forever. The monsters run away, unable to stand being around a good child. Jerry now knows the monsters only come after children who behave like monsters themselves.

They kidnap misbehaving kids and pull them underground, locking them in cages and feeding them until they decide the little troublemakers are ready to be eaten. This doesnt sound like a bright future to Jerry, so he tries very hard to improve his behavior. Eventually, he just cant do it anymore. In a relapse, he steals a lollipop.

As the monsters drag a struggling Jerry to the window in the ground, he knows its all over – he doesnt deserve to be saved, and his parents probably dont love him anyway. But Mr and Mrs Ronden explode out of the family home, armed with an encyclopaedia and a rolling pin, ready to beat the monsters into submission. When Mrs Ronden smashes the window, the monsters cant survive.

They collapse into dust, and Jerry is saved. Jerry tells his parents hes sorry for his awful behavior, and they tell him they feel like theyve been given a second chance too – a chance to love Jerry better.

A secret. A holiday. A summer like never before. Shae knows her parents are keeping something from her and is determined to find out what. But nothing can prepare her for what they are hiding. 17-year-old Shae is learning that relationships, deception, secrets and love can sometimes blend together and change everything.

Shae and her family have a vacation of a lifetime planned, until it is cancelled unexpectedly. No warning. No explanation. Nothing. Instead, she is left to spend the summer holidays at her cousins. Shae knows her parents are keeping something from her and shes determined to find out what. As Shae tries to uncover the mystery, she must also navigate the deteriorating relationship with her favorite cousin, Lexi, whos been acting differently. To makes things more complicated, Shae meets Callen, the perplexing neighbor who manages to get under her skin every time she sees him. Then, Shae receives a mysterious letter. It includes a photograph of her father and another woman. An anonymous caller claims they sent it and have the answers Shae seeks. But does Shae really want the truth?

As Shae fights to keep her world the same, she soon realizes that some things are out of her control. It seems everybody she cares about is hiding something. But nothing can prepare her for the secret her parents are guarding. Shaes world will never be the same again by summers end.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet by Rosanne Hawke is a series of five or more chapter story books featuring an adventurous black cat calledPepper Masalah, and her nine-year-old friend, Zamir.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zams grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasnt flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and cant find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

In the 3rd book in this series, Pepper Masalah and the Giant Bird, the ancient carpet is closer to finding Kashmir and flies over Afghanistan. A huge bird (the Simurgh from Persian folklore) whisks Pepper off the carpet and up to her nest of eggs, high on a mountain. The carpet is disorientated

A cobra comes to eat the eggs. Pepper manages to save the eggs by telling the cobra riddles and winning the riddle game. But Pepper and Zam still need to find the carpet in order to get home to Australia

Grounded in science and written by three child behavioral specialists, Complex Kids, Simple Solutions is your comprehensive guide to raising cooperative, resilient and likeable kids.

Parenting is one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs — and it’s one we are never prepared for. Yet everywhere we turn there is information (and misinformation) about how best to raise our children.

Complex Kids, Simple Solutions offers a research-based antidote to help you get to grips with effective parenting approaches. Penned by two child psychologists and a behavioral analyst, the book weaves together theories and principles from the fields of developmental, cognitive and clinical psychology. It offers proven parenting approaches, used by the authors over decades of working with children and families, and based on three essential fundamentals: Prepare. Teach. Motivate.

The book explains how these concepts apply to almost any situation, from the mundane to the meltdown. Once you understand and master them, you will be able to tackle just about anything with confidence, precision and consistency. 

Covering everything from the morning rush to helping your child handle big emotions, from minimizing screens to the proactive power of spending quality time with your child, Complex Kids, Simple Solutions is a reader-friendly, sometimes humorous manual that gives you practical solutions to parenting problems. 

A compassionate, insightful guide to humanity’s relationship with the horse, with evidence-based training tips. 

Weaving together science, history and fiction, Equine traces our bond with the horse across 6000 years of co-existence. It takes the reader on a journey of discovery, from the evolutionary beginnings of Eohippus, the Dawn Horse through to the domestication of horses, their use during wartime, and their place in our lives today. 

The book opens with a detailed look at the evolution of the horse, with fascinating insight into how particular characteristics and traits evolved to become today’s modern animal: fast, vigilant, and with a strong herd instinct. The horse’s brain, senses and abilities are all fully explored. 

In the book’s second half, the author turns her considerable expertise to how the horse learns, and helps readers understand proven, effective and compassionate training methods for the animals they work with. 

Through her focus on welfare, and by making accessible the complex science of ethology and training, experienced trainer and author Portland Jones entices readers to share the awe and wonder she experiences when working with horses.  

Equine is for anyone who works with horses, rides them, or simply admires this most beautiful of creatures.

Discover the inner workings of our relationship with dogs in this gentle, informed and fun look at the reasons why we love our four-legged friends.

Many of us know the joy, love and chaos of having a dog in your life. But have you ever wondered why we can feel such an attachment to dogs in particular? Pairing adorable images with the latest research, Dogs & Us is an investigation into – and celebration of – human-canine relationships.

With the rise of hybrid working and average lifespans increasing, dog owners are spending more and more time with their pets. This book explores how dogs affect and improve a multitude of aspects of our lives, covering themes including affection, calming, exercise, friendship and play. It also captures the link between human wellbeing and our animal companions – a particularly wonderful aspect of life with dogs.

Dog lovers everywhere will adore this fresh and vibrant look at the bond we share with our canine companions. With fascinating insights from organisations such as the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, it brings brand new academic research together with playful quotes and images in a collection that will inform, intrigue and delight. Join the growing number of dog owners who want to know more about our relationship with ‘man’s best friend’, and dive into Dogs and Us.

Getting Closer is a beautifully illustrated discussion of photography as a way of achieving greater intimacy with the natural world. With a focus on birds, the book is directed primarily at photographers (of all levels of skill and experience), but also at birders, people interested in the outdoors, and those who would simply like to achieve a deeper connection with the natural world.

The introduction makes the case for reconnecting with nature in a way that will draw in a wide range of readers, not just photographers. We have to reconnect, as most of us have lost the spontaneous bond with nature we enjoyed as young children and, in the face of impending ecological disaster, reconnecting with nature is our most urgent task.

Getting Closer offers a simple, practical path for readers to begin to ‘rewild’ themselves. This is the focus of the second part of the book, where the author explores ways of becoming attentive to the natural world around you, wherever you may live. Through self-contained spreads on topics ranging from ‘the four seasons’ and ‘winds and tides’ to ‘flight shots’ and ‘colour and texture’, he introduces basic, hands-on techniques that, with practice, will enable readers to both deeply connect with their environment and become proficient wildlife photographers. ‘Top tips’ on each spread provide technical information aimed at more serious photographers.

Not so long ago, in a small island nation in the South Pacific, beekeepers produced a most peculiar honey. It was much darker than the clover honey everyone put on their toast in the morning, and it tasted very different. In fact, the honey was a problem: it was hard to get out of the combs, and even harder for beekeepers to sell.

Today that honey, manuka from New Zealand, is known around the world. It fetches high prices, and beekeepers do everything in their power to produce as much of it as possible. Wound dressings containing manuka honey are used in leading hospitals, and it has saved the lives of patients infected with disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to standard antibiotic drugs. In so doing it has forced the medical profession to rethink its position on the therapeutic properties of natural products.

This book chronicles the remarkable rags-to-riches story of manuka honey, as seen through the eyes of a New Zealand beekeeping specialist who watched it unfold from the very beginning. Its a great tale of science, in which an inquisitive university lecturer found something totally unexpected in a product everyone had written off. Its also an entertaining account of the way that seemingly simple discovery caught the international medias attention, helping enterprising New Zealanders to develop manuka honey-based products and take them all around the globe.

Women have a long history of keeping the lights burning, from tending ancient altar flames to manning modern day lighthouses. Yet most of their stories are little-known. Guiding Lights is a collection of true stories spanning decades and continents, chronicling the lives of the extraordinary women who mind the worlds lighthouses.

From Hannah Sutton and her partner Grant, the two caretakers living alone on Tasmanias wild Maatsuyker Island, to Karen Zacharuk, the keeper in charge of Cape Beale, Vancouver Island, where bears, cougars and wolves roam, the lives of lighthouse women are not for the faint of heart. Paired with stunning photographs, discover the tales of:

• The dramatic torching of Puysegur Point, one of NZs most inhospitable lighthouses.
• Haunted lighthouses in across the US and their tragic tales.
• Lighthouse accidents and emergencies around the world.
• Two of the worlds most legendary lighthouse women, Ida Lewis (US) and Grace Darling (UK), who risked their lives to save others.

The book also explores our dual perception of lighthouses: are they comforting and romantic beacons symbolising hope and trust, or storm-lashed and forbidding towers with echoes of lonely, mad keepers? Whatever our perception, stories of womens courage and dedication in minding the lights – then and now – continue to capture our imagination and inspire.

Botanists have been the trailblazers in discovering how plants work to benefit our species, collecting many of the plant-species we find in our gardens today from all around the world. This informative and beautiful guide presents the stories and reveals the secrets of 35 of these botanists, plant collectors and gardening pioneers of the past and present.

This includes Joseph Banks, Asa Gray and Marianne North, highlighting the qualities that brought them success. Every botanist included in The Secrets of Great Botanists was, or is, passionate about their particular specialty. Whether they were searching for plants in wild places, prescribing herbal medicines or forming new structures of plant classification, they were driven by an insatiable desire to learn and discover, so that we, as humans, might benefit from improved crops, medicines or gardens.

Through the vibrancy of botanical photographs and beautifully illustrated period botanical watercolours, this book aims to teach readers about the observations, ideas, secrets and discoveries of these ground-breaking botanists. Their influence on gardening and the wider world will provide inspiration and practical guidance for budding gardeners of all levels and inspire readers to try these plants and tips at home.

Cows are my passion. What I have ever sighed for has been to retreat to a Swiss farm, and live entirely surrounded by cows – and china. – Charles Dickens

Cows are one of the most common farm animals on earth, but what many people dont realise is that they are also gentle creatures with a uniquely inquisitive nature. Newly released in paperback, Moo is a collection of quotes from the famous and not-so famous, paired with charming photographs that celebrate the humble cow.

From Thomas de Quincey to Mary Quant, cows have fascinated writers, philosophers, fashion designers, film stars and musicians for centuries. They are hugely sociable creatures, with several strange habits, such as being able to sleep while standing, and spending up to eight hours a day chewing. Moo will open your eyes to their immense variety, their joyfulness, and their surprising tenderness.

With photos of around 50 of the worlds most popular cattle breeds, this is the perfect gift for anyone from bovine experts to folks who happen to find cows cute (youll be surprised by how many famous names agree!).

Pick up Moo today and gain an endearing, amusing insight into the magic of these animals that are absolutely integral to our lives.

• reduce your stress
• become more productive
• improve your decision-making skills
• enjoy better relationships with your colleagues
• work more creatively
• develop your leadership skills, and
• generally enjoy your job more
• then mindfulness can help!

This story draws attention to the importance of biodiversity on the reef and illustrates the special roles and relationships animals have under the sea. Told through the eyes of Roger the wrasse, a small and brightly coloured reef fish who is in charge of a cleaning station on the reef. Rogers bright colours are almost like a neon sign advertising his cleaning services to other sea creatures on the reef.

This is the actual action used by cleaner fish to remove dead skin, parasites and bacteria from the bodies of their clients. This is a very special relationship as the cleaner fish provide a cleaning service to their clients and in return, the cleaners get a full stomach. This is a great example of mutualism in nature where two organisms of different species are in a relationship where both benefit.

Through the art of marine science this story will help children to become aware of the importance of biodiversity on the reef. This real-life nature story also illustrates the benefits of helping each other, an important concept to share with young readers. Education and awareness through storytelling is a powerful way of engaging with children and their readers (eg. teachers, parents, grandparents, family, friends etc) as only through positive storytelling can we hope to change behaviours and encourage children to look after each other and look after and protect the ocean.

Based on the latest marine science the last page of the story explains reef cleaning stations and the concept of mutualism in nature which is explained in terms early readers can understand and teachers can use as part of their classroom discussions and learning activities.

An epic journey from New Zealand to Spain, celebrating the enduring romance of travel by train.

The journey of The Antipodean Express takes in 89 days of travel, on 33 trains, through 19 countries. It begins in New Zealand's North Island, weaves past the volcanoes of Java, through East Asia and on into Europe. From hilarious miscommunications in China to cultural immersion at the Bolshoi Ballet, there are stop-offs with half a worlds worth of impressions, people, history, food, music and culture. Hill also describes most of the great trains of the Eurasian hemisphere, from New Zealands Northern Explorer to the Eurostar, and everything in between.

The culmination is a day spent in the obscure Spanish village of Alaejos, locating the exact antipode of the authors living room. The perfect end to a vast adventure.

Buzz captures bees in all of their moods, from serious (every bee has a job to do) to quirky (they communicate using the waggle dance).

Bees are fun to watch and a delight to listen to. Theyre endlessly fascinating and very photogenic. The lives of bees and humans are intricately intertwined. The bee symbol was part of the Egyptian hieroglyphic language Hindu gods are often associated with bees the Quran records specific instructions to bees there are references to bees in the Bible and Buddhists point out that the bee does no harm, instead taking only what is needed. Ancient civilizations admired the industry, organization and hierarchical structure of bee life. Napoleon adopted the bee as his symbol. And today the bee is a style inspiration for fabrics, jewelry and even architecture.

Throughout our history, most people have generally taken bees for granted. But now they are under pressure. Writers and conservationists have worked hard to raise our awareness of their plight, and nowadays no respectable community is far from a few hives. So progress is being made, but there is much more to do.

This book is a celebration of the life and work of the bee. With quotes from poets and philosophers, Bindi Irwin and Winnie the Pooh, proverbial wisdom and Shakespeare, Buzz reminds us to respect and protect this extraordinary insect.

The Mindful Freak-Out is written for people who are suffering during emotionally painful moments, such as when:

• You are facing anxiety or panic that seems to take over your life.
• The ferocity of anger that you are feeling threatens to damage relationships.
• Your life feels overwhelming, like you just cant take it anymore.

When life serves you up an intensely distressing moment (and life will find a way), you are in a competition with your inner threat system for control over you. Your threat system will try to take over and make you react impulsively. When this happens, you not only suffer from the painful emotion, but are left with distressing consequences.

The Mindful Freak-Out presents strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) to give you the evidence-based tools you need to face highly distressing moments. The goal of these strategies is to soothe your suffering while giving you the inner strength, wisdom, and commitment needed to face the emotional pain in a flexible way that you feel good about (rather than deeply regretting your words or actions later on).

Loaded with practical advice, exercises, and information, this book will help you harness the power of mindfulness and compassion to live your best life, even when intensely painful emotions show up.

From the acclaimed author of Panzer Commander Hermann Balck and False Flags comes an in-depth, critical evaluation of the maneuver warfare revolution that has transformed the American military.

Colonel John Boyd, a maverick fighter pilot, revolutionized the American art of war through his ideas on conflict and the human mind. Boyd claimed that victory is won by the side which transitions through 'decision cycles' faster than the enemy, mentally checkmating them with minimal violence. Maneuver warfare concepts became military doctrine during the 1980s but this revolution accidently undermined American security.

When formulating his theories on conflict, Boyd relied upon fraudulent accounts of WWII written by Wehrmacht veterans who fabricated historical evidence to disassociate their reputations from Germany's defeat and cover up their willing participation in Nazi war crimes. Boyd fell for this deception and unknowingly injected dangerous misinformation into the American military mind. Maneuver warfare has accordingly corrupted the art of war and resulted in catastrophic decisions made in Iraq and Afghanistan during 21st century conflict.

The Blind Strategist separates fact from fantasy and exposes the myths of maneuver warfare through a detailed evidence-based investigation. Now reissued in paperback, it is a must-read for anybody interested in American military history.

The focus of this story is on marine debris, which now impacts all marine and coastal habitats around the world. Our marine wildlife is also impacted by marine debris and plastic pollution through ingestion, entanglement, habitat changes and bioaccumulation, with marine debris entanglement now an internationally recognised threat. As this story is told through the eyes of Frankie the fish the readers will see the far-reaching impacts of marine debris on our oceans and wildlife as she swims through the oceans from the shallows, to the reef to the open ocean. As marine debris doesn’t just appear out of nowhere, it is more important than ever to educate our future ocean stewards (our children) about the impacts of marine debris.

Through the art of marine science this story will help children to be more aware of the types of marine debris and the impacts to sea creatures, along with everyday solutions to help rid our oceans of trash. Education and awareness through storytelling is a powerful way of engaging with children and their readers (eg. teachers, parents, grandparents, family, friends etc) as only through positive storytelling with solutions can we hope to change behaviours. Based on the latest marine science the last page of the story is dedicated to the science of marine debris, which is explained in terms early readers can understand and teachers can use as part of their classroom discussions and learning activities.

This story pictures the impacts of coral bleaching on the reef caused by human-induced climate change and it also illustrates a number of other challenges impacting the health of the Great Barrier Reef from coastal pollution, overfishing, marine debris and invasive species (such as the Crown-of-thorns starfish).

Anthia’s journey through the Great Barrier Reef also draws attention to the beauty and diversity of the worlds largest living structure with many wonderful underwater characters to ‘sea’. You will need to dive into the story to find out how Anthia and her friends find The Great Barrier THIEF and bring the colours back to their underwater home.In her words:

“Did you know the coral colours are a warning sign? A global reef alarm?

We all need to do what we can to keep it safe from harm”.

Through the art of marine science this story will help children to become aware of the impacts of climate change and coral bleaching on our reefs, along with everyday solutions to help ‘cool’ things down -- as we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions right away. Education and awareness through storytelling is a powerful way of engaging with children and their readers (eg. teachers, parents, grandparents, family, friends etc) as only through positive storytelling with solutions can we hope to change behaviours. Based on the latest marine science the last page of the story is dedicated to the science of coral bleaching caused by climate change, which is explained in terms early readers can understand and teachers can use as part of their classroom discussions and learning activities.

Every parent wants the best for their child, but how do you go about giving your baby or toddler the skills they need to live a happy, fulfilled life? 'Best Start' has the answers!

Your baby's early experiences and interactions provide them with the beginnings of their self-beliefs, thoughts and feelings their self-esteem and self-value how they operate in relationships how they behave socially and their sense of emotional security. It is therefore vital that you understand how to help your baby to develop trust and confidence, and to feel secure and valued. In 'Best Start', psychologist Lynn Jenkins looks at how a person's emotional foundations are formed in babyhood and the power that these foundations have over the way in which a child develops. Most importantly, she outlines what your baby needs in order to develop a positive idea of themselves and what you can do to meet those needs, ensuring that your child experiences the best start in life. Simply written with an engaging honesty and humour, 'Best Start' is essential reading for every parent!

In this revealing book, Max Cryer explores the truth or otherwise of facts and beliefs we may have always been told are true, but which on closer examination may not be. In a wide-ranging book encompassing social history, language, music, politics, food, sport, the natural world and much more, we discover the truth behind some of our most cherished beliefs. For example:

Do St Bernard dogs really carry brandy?
Does Santa Claus come from the North Pole?
Did Winston Churchill coin the term ‘Iron Curtain’?
‘OK’ is an American expression, right?
Tulips come from Holland, don’t they?
Did Sarah Palin say ‘I can see Russia from my house?’
Did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone?
Lady Godiva rode naked through Coventry – didn’t she?

Max Cryer is a seasoned author who is incapable of writing a dull word. Always fresh and amusing, he will take you on a journey through your acquired knowledge, testing whether it is really up to scratch.

With Heartfulness, Dr Stephen McKenzie, a leading mindfulness author and teacher, brings us back to the basics by connecting the heart with mindfulness to become "heartfulness". The paths to a fulfilling life are shown and demonstrated in an approachable, encouraging way. 

To be "heartful" is to be connected with ourselves and with other people, therefore being truly alive, happy, without stress and at peace. You'll achieve this by following along with chapters on: -Adversity -Humor -Knowledge -Kindness -Love -Hope -Contentment -Courage -Creativity0Heartfulness is filled to the brim with anecdotes, subjects to contemplate, and lots to read and enjoy. This is a gentle and warm book that seeks to bring the reader home to a happy state and proves that mindfulness and like minded practices are neither buzzwords or fads.

With people staying healthier for longer, grandparents are increasingly involved in raising their grandchildren. Grandparenting Grandchildren is the first guide of its kind written specifically for grandparents, and aims to help you raise well-rounded, ready-to-learn, happy grandchildren, even if you only look after them for a few hours a week. By explaining the latest neuro-developmental and neuro-educational research in accessible, applicable ways, it will reaffirm what you instinctively know, while providing new tools to build your grandchild's imagination, creativity and curiosity.

Combining the authors' practical experience as childhood development professionals with international research, this book helps grandparents understand the key influences on healthy development in the first 5 years: movement, music, sleep and food. Grandparenting Grandchildren gives practical advice on how to integrate these & super brain foods' best in your grandchild's life. This has been proven to have many positive benefits, including improving the ability to think creatively, building speech and language skills, promoting social skills, and driving curiosity.

Learn to build a loving, supportive relationship that helps grandchildren feel positive about their future, while constructing essential life skills that ensure they are well-rounded, happy and capable, confident learners.

• teenagers and what helps them develop personal control
• how to sort out behaviour so you don't over react
• what we can learn from watching professionals who manage emergencies
• proven, practical methods for managing tempestuous teenagers.

A cancer diagnosis has more than physical effects; it can cause a torrent of unexpected, unfamiliar emotions felt by both the patient and those who care for them. The Cancer Companion is a compassionate, down-to-earth guide for those navigating these difficult and complex emotions. It takes psychological interventions shown to be appropriate and helpful in the management of cancer-related distress and provides an effective framework for patients and their loved ones to be able to apply these interventions in their own lives.

The book is written in short, concise chapters, organised in four sections:

• diagnosis and treatment
• ending treatment
• managing advanced disease
• strategies to manage the specific psychological components which may occur (including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and management of relationships).

With over a decade of experience working with cancer patients and their families, author Toni Lindsay understands that accessible, constructive emotional guidance is vital. This simple structure, combined with the book’s comprehensive approach, aims to help people find a companionate commentary on their situation, and to engage with the outlined strategies. The Cancer Companion is a comforting, constructive, and jargon-free guide which will have a lasting and meaningful impact on the mental wellbeing of anyone whose life has been affected by cancer.

These days, more and more people are looking to stay in the workforce longer and are seeking satisfying, fulfilling jobs. How to Get a Good Job After 50 is a step-by-step guide to finding and winning the sort of job older employees want to have!

In clear, practical chapters, job search expert Rupert French shows you how to adopt a pro-active, & self-employed' approach that builds self-esteem and promotes a time-efficient, self-managed job search program.

Learn how to:

• concentrate on no more than two or three job leads at any one time
• use proven marketing techniques to win good jobs
• ;write résumés that grab the employer's interest in the first few sentences
• find jobs before they are advertised
• build an effective job search network
• use social media to support your job search
• effectively prepare for a job interview
• ;rebuild confidence and beat age discrimination.

Older workers are vital to the workplace; they have skills, reliability and a sense of responsibility that can only be gained through experience. How to Get a Good Job After 50 explains how to demonstrate these qualities to prospective employers, turning your age into an advantage. Covering all aspects of the job search, this is the essential guide to taking control of your career with expertise and confidence. If you want to be sure of your ability to get a good job quickly, let this book be your guide.

Travelling the world is an exhilarating, eye-opening, life-affirming experience. But it can also be scary to even think about. There are language barriers, borders to cross, planes to fly in, and of course, the mystery of an unknown land. It can be difficult to take the chance, even when you're yearning for adventure.

This inspirational collection of true travel stories proves that the best journeys are to be had when you feel the fear but go anyway. From a nervous flier anxiously taking to the skies for the first time to a female traveller braving the Middle East, from a death-defying hike on an Indonesian volcano to the anxious freedom of finding yourself alone on the other side of the world, these stories are certain to send you looking for your passport.

Created by the popular travel writing website, Intrepid Times, as part of an international writing competition that saw entries pouring in from across the globe, Fearless Footsteps is travel writing at both its most exhilarating and its most introspective. Covering every continent from Africa to Antarctica, these carefully selected stories get to the heart of what it means to be a traveller and see the world with courage, open-mindedness, and relentless curiosity.

Drawing on Jared Cooney Horvath’s 15 years of experience conducting brain research at prominent universities, teaching students from 10 to 80 years of age, and working with organisations and schools across 4 continents, Stop Talking, Start Influencing outlines 12 scientific principles of how people learn. The result is a book that shows readers how to impart their knowledge to others in a manner that truly influences them. From the challenges of learning through a PowerPoint presentation to the debilitating ‘error alarm’ that can kick in when students make a mistake, the common barriers to learning are explained and tackled. Nearly every day we work to disseminate wisdom to others, so why not ensure that wisdom is retained?

For every business leader sick of repeating themselves ad nauseam to colleagues and clients, for every coach tired of endlessly drilling athletes without seeing meaningful improvement, for every entrepreneur who’s had enough of pouring their heart into presentations only to see no lasting impact among the audience… it’s time to stop talking and start influencing!