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 Misērables,' 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...

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 half 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. The remaining half of my ashes will be placed at a spot on the Haworth Moor.Apart from writing two musical plays between 2005 and 2009, I'd stopped writing for a number of years. It was only after I had met my ...

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 Misērables,' 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 ...

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 half 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. The remaining half of my ashes will be placed at a spot on the Haworth Moor.Apart from writing two musical plays between 2005 and 2009, I'd stopped writing for a number of years. It was only after I had met my ...

When good people fail to stand up for what they believe to be right, bad behaviour is provided with a golden opportunity to triumph! Into such environments, bullying is born and permitted to flourish.Maw is born exceptionally small and enters secondary school life to face the school bully. He confronts the bully and challenges him to a boxing match. On the very start of his fourteenth year of life, Maw makes a wish upon a shooting star and from that moment, his life changes. He awa...

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 invol...

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 have taken the germ of her fact and added a bit of my fiction with a dash of author licence. This third volume of ‘Tales from Portlaw’, ‘Bigger and Better’ is about a Portlaw boy with stunted...

Another reason for writing the 'Action Annie' stories was to correct an imbalance which had appeared to have developed between girls and boys; and in particular, the differing stereotypes. When one looked at 'roles' and 'the type of behaviour' that might be 'expected' from a boy, but which was wholly 'never expected' or considered 'acceptable' from a girl; the discrimination practised was more subtle: such as shouting, swearing, fighting, picking one's nose and even making rude noises in p...

Numerical Linear Algebra with Applications is designed for those who want to gain a practical knowledge of modern computational techniques for the numerical solution of linear algebra problems, using MATLAB as the vehicle for computation. The book contains all the material necessary for a first year graduate or advanced undergraduate course on numerical linear algebra with numerous applications to engineering and science. With a unified presentation of computation, basic algorithm analysis...

This author's works have been praised by numerous celebrities, the most notable being Nelson Mandela who described two of his African stories as 'Wonderful', the late Princess Diana who used to read two of his books to the Princes William and Harry when they were aged 9 and 7 years, and a former Chief Inspector of Schools for The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED), who described the author's writing to the press as being of 'High quality literature.'...

Easter is probably the most important event of the year as it heralds the rebirth and rejuvenation of the world. The onset of spring softens the ground that was frozen solid mere weeks earlier, releasing into the new meadows and warmer soil those fragile flowers and plants, which had been hibernating beneath the hard sod. All Christians rejoice the onset of Easter, the birth of the new lambs and the seasonal celebrations, including one's search for the Easter Bunny and any chocolate Easter...

'Tales from the Allotments' is my favourite story that I have ever written from the 50+ books I've had published. It is suitable reading for any teenager and adult. Although set in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it is a timeless story that is just as relevant today as it was 150 years ago.It tells the story of a mining village where the local pit is the sole employer. The pit is closed down and the miners are made redundant. Many of the villagers move in search of new homes and...