Set in the times of the industrial revolution, east of Glasgow, in the border town of Coatbridge, we follow the trials of Isabel Wishaw, from childish adventures to a traumatized desperate young women. The central character in the story and daughter of Peter Wishaw, an ailing miner: Alice her home proud mother, and Jamie her brother who had recently joined his father to be discontented in the mine. Their living to exist circumstances: journey thru rent evasion, mining accident, kidnapping ...

UNLOCK THE MAGIC OF THEATRE THIS CHRISTMAS - GO BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH WEST END LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL IN HIS FIRST MEMOIR'Love, laughter and tears abound in this warm, entertaining read' Woman and Home'Glittering' Daily Mail'Wonderful' The SunIn 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical Aspects of Love. It was a moment...

This book ventures into the modern day use of inspiration by the inclusion of 'internet shorts,' requiring a limited space to reply, relating to others simply in admiration or requesting a title for inspiration. I'd write a reply or form a poem suggesting a title, not all are shown here though they're given as inspiration later to complete poems, all done from 'Internet shorts.' The subjects here are mainly love related with a little of nature interspersed here and there. It's surprising h...

From the first I included poetic lines, from my novella ‘Stand and deliver, to my setting in the places of my childhood, my longest tale, Upon this tree. Either spoken or as a feed to a chapter. An example is the poem 'Remember me (included in full in the 'Love' section) Almost a biographical theme, I mostly write in rhythm and rhyme, a natural instance that appeals to me, though I feel it isn’t a necessity in story verses, where it can appear tedious. Like most poets this selection comes ...

First published in 1988. This book argues that there is a growing structural crisis in the provision of housing in advanced capitalist countries and that the steady improvement in housing conditions since 1945 is unlikely to continue. The dilemmas facing housing policy makers can no longer be seen as concerned just with distributional questions but with problems generated by the restructuring of key elements of housing provision, including private housing finance and the housebuilding indu...

The most beloved fairy tales of Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, narrated by the very best of British stage and screen talent. Perfect for bedtime, the long car journey or rainy afternoons at home, let Andersen delight and enchant children (and adults) of all ages with characters that stand the test of time.The Princess and the Pea and the Steadfast Tin Soldier by Sir Roger MooreThe Little Match Girl by Ewan McGregorThe Ugly Duckling by Stephen FryThe...

"Playing Gods is a spectacularly action-packed cosmic fantasy series, laced with edgy humor, social satire and imaginative world-building. Xriah and Vylis, two warriors with diametrically opposed morality and empowered with superhuman abilities to match, are repeatedly thrust into wildly varying worlds to savagely do battle on behalf of their respective deities. Themes, concepts and tropes from the genres of gaming fantasy are reinterpreted and explored in depth in Playing Gods, with compl...

After the events of Deathlands 131: Freak Pharm and the overthrow of the corrupt pseudo-medical theocracy there, Ryan Cawdor, Krysty Wroth and their fellow companions had decided that the recovering community of Bomville would likely be the safest place to prepare for the eventual birth of Krysty's child, rather than venturing out yet again into the unknown. Otherworldly circumstances soon convince Ryan and Krysty that the opposite is true. With a small contingent of grateful residents fro...

'Another fabulous and entertaining read. I devoured it!' Santa MontefioreESCAPE TO THE EMPIRE THEATRE WITH THE BRAND-NEW NOVEL FROM MUSICAL THEATRE LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL.Running a theatre may appear to be all about the showbiz, but times are hard at The Empire. Following a turbulent period Jack Treadwell, erstwhile proprietor, his mother Lillian, and his playwright wife Grace, know they ne...

Welcome to The Empire theatre1922. When Jack Treadwell arrives at The Empire, in the middle of a rehearsal, he is instantly mesmerised. But amid the glitz and glamour, he soon learns that the true magic of the theatre lies in its cast of characters - both on stage and behind the scenes.There's stunning starlet Stella Stanmore and Hollywood heartthrob Lancelot Drake; and Ruby Rowntree, who keeps the music playing, while Lady Lillian Lassiter...

A groundbreaking and revolutionary book that will transform how lean is understood, practiced, and used within organizationsA lean strategy is about gaining a competitive edge by offering better quality products at competitive prices and making a sustainable profit by eliminating waste through engaging employees in discovering deeper ways to think about their own jobs and smarter ways of working together. In its current form, lean has been radically effect...

First published in 1988, this book analyses the changes that took place in the economic organisation of the British construction industry throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, in particular considering its social and economic structure and examining the causes of its poor industrial record. Michael Ball describes how the major firms survived the economic slump between 1973 and 1982 - when construction workloads collapsed - by substantially restructuring their operations, relationships with...