Cirrus@Austlit

'One woman's undertaking to build her very own tiny house, to live a simpler way of life and create a home, all while her relationship falls apart.

'Tiny is a memoir by award-winning travel writer Louise Southerden about her quest to create a simpler way of life by building her very own tiny house. In her successful career as a travel writer, Louise found herself staying in ever new and exotic locations, but while staying in a tiny house in Norway, she had an epiphany about what she truly wanted for her life, ready to put down roots. With no prior building experience, Louise undertook the build with her partner, Max, which tested an already unstable relationship. Over the year and a half of planning and construction of her tiny house, Louise witnessed her new home coming together as her relationship was falling apart. Alongside her burgeoning construction skills, Louise learned about love, home, forgiveness and what we really need to be happy. This is an intensely personal story about searching for home and true love, two of life’s most fundamental needs, risking everything, failing and finding ways to cope, and discovering that what we need isn’t always what we thought we wanted.' (Publication summary)

'Kidnapped in the most expensive taxi in Mexico. Living like Frank Sinatra with a UTI in Palm Springs. Avoiding exploding rubbish bins in new Tokyo. Sleeping with man-eating spiders in Guatemala.

'For better or (usually) worse, major life decisions start as a scribble on the back of a bar napkin for Paul Manser – a writer whose existence is mostly made up of stupid choices and wildly ambitious travel insurance claims.

'Life Plans on Dive Bar Napkins is a book of experiences Paul always wanted to get into print, but worried that some tut-tutting travel editor would strip of all the best jokes. You could say that the book is an unnecessary act of self-indulgence by an egotist who shirks life’s responsibilities, drinks too much and thinks too little. And you’d probably be right.

'Paul wrote this book for the people who want to experience something different, who drink because they enjoy it, and whose life plans begin as incoherent scrawls on the back of a dive bar napkin.' (Publication summary)

'Now more than ever, children are encouraged to value and appreciate our world. I Heart the World is a beautifully illustrated romp around the planet, celebrating the people, cultural delights, natural and man-made wonders, and the breathtaking flora and fauna, that occupy our land, sea and sky.

'Organised into chapters for each world continent, Tania's illustrations will have any child or parent poring over the pages for many hours, and learning great facts about places near and far.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'’When we all came together at Uluru, we invited all Australian people to accept our voice and culture as a gift.’

'Can you help us find the heart of the nation?

'A book about understanding Australia’s past, so we can have a shared future.'

Source: Publisher's blurb. 

'Tourism Australia statistics show that many overseas tourists, as well as Australians, are keen to learn more about Australia’s first peoples. And while the Indigenous tourism industry continues to grow, no comprehensive travel guide is currently available.

'Marcia Langton’s Welcome to Country is a completely new and inclusive guidebook to Indigenous Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. In its pages, respected elder and author Professor Marcia Langton answers questions such as what does ‘country' mean to Indigenous people. A detailed introduction covers such topics as Indigenous languages and customs, history, native title, art and dance, storytelling, and cultural awareness and etiquette for visitors. This is followed by a directory of Indigenous tourism experiences, organised into state and territory sections, covering galleries and festivals, communities that are open to visitors, tours and performances.

'This book is for everyone travelling around this fascinating country who wants to gain an insight into the culture that has thrived here for over 50,000 years, and enjoy tourism opportunities that will show you a different side of Australia — one that remains dynamic, and is filled with openness and diversity. This book will quickly become one of the most important travel guides to be published in recent times. '  (Publication summary)