At times, strange things happen that make you scratch your head. Whether they are weird coincidences, life-changing events or waking dreams makes no difference, the haunting memory of them remains with you for a long time. These four very different short stories are the product of my memory and imagination. Two are from real-life spiced with fictional trimmings, the other two are fiction stories influenced by fact. Some of the characters depicted are real. Others are constructs. For me, when the distinction between fact and fiction becomes blurred, the result is often weird and uncanny. I...

THROUGH GLASS EYES is a classic heartfelt rags-to-riches saga set in the Yorkshire Dales in 1896. When Lucy Oldfield steals an exquisite French doll from her dying mistress, she is unaware of the roles it will play as time goes on. Over a period of 25 years Lucy experiences the struggle to survive in hard times, the tragic personal cost of the Great War and the thrill of visiting the Indian subcontinent as a woman of means. Love, loss, pain and joy are the ever-changing facets of Lucy's life and, throughout her journey, the Bru doll is never far away. "When the final resolution comes it is...

THE BLACK THREAD is the dramatic story of a young woman's desperate attempt to escape the clutches of her cruel father. Set, in 1895, against the dark backdrop of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, intrigue and emotion combine in this unforgettable historical novel. Amy Dodd has never met her father but longs for the day he will return home. But when that day finally arrives, her nightmares begin. After the death of her mother, she alone suffers her father's abuse. She knows that if she is to survive she must get as far away as possible from the man she fears. To escape, she takes the canal's towing...

English aristocrat, Cynthia "Thia" Beresford is everything a Victorian lady shouldn't be - outspoken, strong-willed and a champion of feminist issues long before they came to the fore. When she becomes bored with the demands of nineteenth century society she decides to forego the luxuries of Huntingley and embark on a riding expedition across the wild open pampas of Patagonia. Accompanied by her father, brother, his friend and her Newfoundland dogs, Thia joins the ship in Liverpool. On board, she is intrigued by a mysterious Welshman, Euan Davies and when the group disembarks in South America...

This new illustrated goat book takes a serious look at goat farming. It gives consideration to both small and large-scale commercial goat farming enterprises. 'GOATS' is divided into three sections namely: 1) meat goats 2) fibre goats and 3) others including cheese production and more. It is NOT a goat husbandry book. The facts provided were gathered over several years. Hopefully, they will provide, those already in the industry and those considering entering the goat industry, an overview of past, present and future challenges. These include live-goats and frozen-meat export markets, mohair...

Three dramatic yet heart-warming historical novels make up this trilogy of tales. Badly treated and battling the inequalities females suffered in the 19th century, three young women display pluck, determination and courage as they struggle to overcome adversity. Though their stories are completely different, they have one quality in common - they all possess true Yorkshire grit. SEA DUST is set in the Yorkshire harbour-town of Whitby where the death of her new-born infant and the cruel nature of her husband make Emma determined to escape his clutches. With the help of a French sailor she...

SEA DUST - a historical novel set in 1856 Emma's life is in ruins and in order to survive she must escape from her cruel husband and find a new life. A chance encounter with a French sailor on the windswept Whitby cliff top provides the opportunity, but to grasp it, she must stow away on his ship bound for Australia. However, even on board ship, danger lurks, and the changing moods of the turbulent ocean mirror Emma's emotional journey. "Confronting and real. The author pulls no punches in portraying the dark side of life and the lives of those bound by the sea. This story inspires the reader...