Cirrus@Austlit

'You know the story of Alice in Wonderland, but did you hear what happens next? Come along with Alice as she travels Wonderland in a hot pink Corvette! Imagine what could happen, now that Alice is all grown up.' (Publication summary)

'The Great Western Woodlands in Western Australia is a beautiful place that many plants and animals call home.

'Walk slowly through these pages, can you see the pygmy possum, honeyeater and plonking frog?

'Look carefully through the woodlands, it's a magical place with so much to see.' (Publication summary)

'Type 1 diabetic, fitness fanatic, dancing queen, Canasta champion; only some of the tags used to describe Colleen Ashby.

'Daughter, sister to five brothers, wife and mother of three sons further define Colleen. Add to that, she is a heart transplant recipient who is now visually impaired and you realise there is much more to learn.

'Colleen grew up in the Perth Hills, enjoying a safe and 'privileged' childhood, particularly with her brothers always looking out for her. Surrounded by a bunch of boisterous, competitive boys, it's no surprise Colleen developed a passion for sport and fitness, often competing against them.

'Even with a high level of physical fitness, problems with her heart plagued her and slowed her down. Twelve stents later, the thirteenth was unlucky; she needed open-heart surgery. It was soon obvious her heart was not going to last much longer and after much discussion, serious consideration and convincing the 'grumpy old witchdoctor', Colleen was placed on the transplant list. This was not the end of the story.

'Colleen was given a new heart but due to severe blood loss during the surgery, lost 95% of her sight. 'I'd have been really pissed off if I'd lost it all but 5%? I can cope, ' she said. With a bucketful of hope, perseverance, gratitude and unwavering support of friends and family, Colleen has navigated her new normal, discovering what makes her tick and what her purpose in life is.

'Funny, down-to-earth, harrowing and at times, utterly heartbreaking, 'I Can See Clearly Now' is the rollercoaster ride of a woman who continues to defy expectations.' (Publication summary)

'It is every parent's dread that their offspring, no matter what their conscientious parent's advice, will be influenced into experimenting with drugs once they start spreading their wings. Their age, social status, which school they attended or what friends they have has no bearing on what seems to be the unavoidable introduction to 'grass' (cannabis), methamphetamines (speed and ice), heroin or cocaine. In the spur of the moment, they will disregard the warnings given and the dangers inherent in using them. This is the story of Ruth who, after years of refusing to believe her son David would be dim-witted enough to succumb to pressure of a social group, finally acknowledges he had done so and so begins a time of deep reflection, a time she shares with Gnome.' (Publication summary)

'One day whilst playing hide and seek with a group of little aliens and angels, the goddesses heard a sobbing. It was coming from a distant place in the galaxy. They couldn't really see outside of their realm, and never really ventured beyond it. But this crying made them want to take a closer look. So off they both ventured toward the outer realm.

'Right at the edge was a little blue planet. She looked so hurt and sad.

'She was crying because the people that lived on her were always hurting her and she didn't know what to do. She felt so alone. 

Did no one love her anymore?"

'This is an adventure of Astara and Erefrey, goddesses of the realm and protectors of the stars and galaxies.

'Come and join the sisters as they help rescue the little blue planet.' (Publication summary)

'Lara likes to daydream but it gets her in trouble at school.

'Will Mum know what to do?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Delilah Darkleen is a twelve-year-old girl on the brink of her first year of high school. Sounds exciting, right?

'Well, when your big sister starts dating a monster, your little sister finds a baby bird, you find a mysterious box found underneath the school, the boy you like is the coolest guy in the ENTIRE school AND you have a test due on Friday, then life can get very complicated!

'Luckily for Delilah she as her diary to share her innermost thoughts and feelings with to help figure out what the most important things in her life are.

'Do you dare join Delilah on her adventures at high school?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Tori and Zak go on holiday with their Grandma to the beach.

'There they meet Eric the Sand Bear but he doesn't have socks and his feet are cold. What will the children do to help?' (Publication summary)

'Clara wants to be a writer, a passion she shares with her beloved older brother, Jake. But when Jake is found dead in the wash on Scarborough beach, it shakes her to the core and she's desperate to understand why he took his life.

'While studying Psychology at uni, she finds herself assisting with a rehab program in a low security prison. There she meets Michael, an alcoholic and petty criminal with an irresistible pull. He reminds her so much of Jake and constantly challenges her, testing her resolve to stay true to her partner, Dan.

'As time moves on, Clara sets up her own practice but cracks are forming in her work and relationship with Dan, not helped by Michael weaving his way in and out of her life. She's treading water and still plagued by Jake's death.

'Can she overcome her loss and save Michael before it's too late?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'She really should know better…

'Lucy’s life was fun and uncomplicated. Nights were spent partying with best friend Em, doing what twenty-somethings do: dancing, drinking and ditching any men who wanted more than just a one-night stand.

'All Joe Morris wanted was for Lucy to be his devoted wife. Now two years have passed since Joe’s death and Lucy wakes at sunrise reliving the events of that fateful night harbouring a guilty secret she knows will cause her house of cards to tumble.

'When Em suggests a holiday to the clubbing island of Ibiza, Lucy jumps at the chance to escape her woes and reignite a lifestyle she’d long since left behind. Ibiza doesn’t disappoint and Lucy wants more, but is it all just a smokescreen? Lucy’s past won’t stay buried for long and she knows what she should do but at what cost?

'Can she figure it out before it’s too late, or will Lucy always be the sunrise girl?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.