I grew up on my mother's stories. Although an Irish woman of small stature and imaginative mind, stories didn't come any 'taller' than those tales told by my mother. They would stretch the bounds of one's credulity beyond the realms of possibility, and yet, she always made me 'want to believe them'. I was born in Portlaw and when my time comes to lie at the other side of the green sod, it is my wish that one third my ashes shall be placed upon my grandparents' grave, William and Mary Fanning, along with my uncles, Willie Fanning and Johnnie Fanning who are also buried there. One third will be...
I grew up on my mother's stories. Although an Irish woman of small stature and imaginative mind, stories didn't come any 'taller' than those tales tol...
'Rebeca's Revenge' was written by me many years ago, but until now, I did not feel comfortable publishing it as it would have greatly conflicted with the image that I had established over a fifteen year period with my child readership audience. Now however, in the autumn of my life where I write only for adults, it feels appropriate to have this 'strictly for adults' story published widely. 'Rebecca's Revenge' is a story that spans fifty years in the life of a teenage girl between the 1950s and the New Millennium. Sally Cartwright has an identity crisis after discovering her physical...
'Rebeca's Revenge' was written by me many years ago, but until now, I did not feel comfortable publishing it as it would have greatly conflicted with ...
As a growing child, the one thing that I experienced in abundance was 'second chances.' In fact, I'd go as far as to say that without having had my fair share of second chances, my life would have taken a much different course. Second chances were my life saver Not surprisingly, one of my favourite books was Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables, ' a story that was chiefly responsible for transforming me from 'Thief' to that of 'Probation Officer' in later life. I was also fascinated by the bible story of Christ telling His followers to 'turn the other cheek' in circumstances where it seemed more...
As a growing child, the one thing that I experienced in abundance was 'second chances.' In fact, I'd go as far as to say that without having had my fa...
In dealing with the theme of this first story in the 'Action Annie' series of stories from the book of the same name, I wanted to address that perennial question that has perplexed the minds of millions of children ever since 'Father Christmas' became a prime feature of their Christmas Day celebrations. "If there is a Father Christmas, and he is a Christmas visitor to the home of every boy and girl across the world to give them a present; then why does he always give the most expensive presents to those children whose parents are the richest and the cheapest presents to those children whose...
In dealing with the theme of this first story in the 'Action Annie' series of stories from the book of the same name, I wanted to address that perenni...
The social cohesion of any civilised society cannot be achieved without the eradication of high unemployment, mass homelessness and class division. While ever this triple scourge plagues our country, Britain will remain a divided nation, unable to harness the full potential of its human resources. The provision of adequate shelter, to act as a base from which meaningful tasks can be performed, alongside the rightful expectation to be treated equally, are the basic rights of every citizen and creature within any humane and democratic society. In the final analysis. Homelessness impairs health,...
The social cohesion of any civilised society cannot be achieved without the eradication of high unemployment, mass homelessness and class division. Wh...
This book is a compilation of the 3 stories that Nelson Mandela phoned me personally to say were 'Wonderful' at their publication in the year 2000. The stories are from the individual perspective of 3 children; one from South Africa, one from the Punjab in India and one from Falmouth in Jamaica. Each story provides an accurate historical background setting. Throughout my life I have always been fascinated by the cultures, customs, development and history of three countries from the other side of my world. The 3 countries are Africa, India and Jamaica. With regard to Africa and its violent...
This book is a compilation of the 3 stories that Nelson Mandela phoned me personally to say were 'Wonderful' at their publication in the year 2000. Th...
The true test of any great nation is not what it achieves, but how it endures. Africa is a great nation and the endurance of its people over many centuries is a testament to their capacity to survive with dignity within an all-too-often cruel and intolerant world. For many centuries, the people of Africa experienced colonisation, enslavement, economic exploitation, apartheid, disenfranchisement, resettlement and segregation. Throughout these hardships they kept their faith in their beliefs, culture, traditions, religions and dreams. The exodus of Africans to the four corners of the Earth has...
The true test of any great nation is not what it achieves, but how it endures. Africa is a great nation and the endurance of its people over many cent...
A Jamaican story from the land where the sun shines down on every man, woman and child in equal measure; a safe harbor where hope springs eternal in the hearts of all good people and where the river of respect runs deep. This story is set in Trelawney, sometime between 1950 and 1962. The story is one of three stories that Nelson Mandela praised as being 'wonderful'. I extend my appreciation to the honorable Royland Barrett, the Custos of Trelawney (Mayor), for the factual background information he provided about the history and development of Trelawney and its capital town of Falmouth. The...
A Jamaican story from the land where the sun shines down on every man, woman and child in equal measure; a safe harbor where hope springs eternal in t...
Kulwant is a girl who was born and reared in the Punjab, India. From being a young child, she has a recurring dream about the man that she will one day marry in the Sikh tradition. She is an only child and has a very happy upbringing until tragedy strikes the family and her father loses a leg in a landmine explosion. From there it is downhill for the family. Experience the trials and tribulations as Kulwant grows up into a beautiful woman and searches for the man of her dreams. She attracts suitors from all over India and after eventually reducing her offers of marriage to four, she sets the...
Kulwant is a girl who was born and reared in the Punjab, India. From being a young child, she has a recurring dream about the man that she will one da...
In the year 2000, when this book was first published, I wanted to create a book which could be given to a child who was starting school at the age of 5 years and which could be read by them progressively until the age of 13 years when they either moved up to 'Middle or High School.' I also wanted to mark their memory of the New Millennium with their own special book. Because the reading age between all children of between 5 years of age and 13 is so vast, this project naturally involved the writing of a number of stories that catered for children of different chronological ages and reading...
In the year 2000, when this book was first published, I wanted to create a book which could be given to a child who was starting school at the age of ...
