I grew up in a small farm community in the Eastern Cape. The world I knew then was only what was surrounding me; the farm, farm lands, livestock, bushes and forest and two or three other farm dweller families. That was my reality, no big cities or big townships. I never knew anything about big rivers, oceans, lots of animals, no idea of big mountains etc. When I grew up my parents moved to the city, things changed, it was a total new world. My world got so complex and vast. It was when I started visiting beaches, zoo, animal sanctuaries, visiting nature reserves and botanical gardens and travelling by boats, ships and flying in aeroplanes. I am now an avid traveller, I also go for walks in the natural environments, listen to birds singing and so on. The world has so much to offer for those who grab these opportunities. As a family man, I often visit with my family to city parks, nature reserves, and lots of community projects that take care of animals and the environment. I am both an environmental and social activist, and I have spent most of my life either being involved directly in the protection of fauna and flora or training those who are involved in the same. When I travel or visit other countries, I visit mostly destinations that would offer natural and aesthetic beauty to tourists. I also have a huge interest in climate change as it is, among others, influenced by human behaviour, more especially air pollution. I am also interested in religion, more especially African Traditional religion. The reason for my interest in this branch of religion is because it is mostly nature based. In other words, it is religion that does not separate between humans and nature. For the adherents of this religion, life is one and God manifests himself through nature and therefore taking care of nature is a religious duty. As an environmental and social activist, I am involved either through making financial contributions or contributing my time to community projects of different kinds. These projects would include contributing shoes to primary school learners who have no shoes, contributing money to soup kitchens for crèches and unemployed jobseekers and many other projects. I am hoping to sustain these initiatives to a level where they can help more people.

My Bio will tell you about my past and present. The past is important but nothing is more important as the present ME! The Beautiful and strong ME! The ME that makes the people who know and love me happy to be in my presence, the present me is what matters. My values and morals and my way of thinking are what is important, the past was just the "making of", the preview one see's of movies and series, the past is an ancient scroll where most of my life is narrated by my parents, teachers, siblings and the other significant people who come and go from one's life, My present is the true picture of what I am and who I am so let me give you insight into who I am: I am a straight talker yet I am loving and a helpful person who is always willing to learn new things, I follow rules only when it makes sense and is fair. I was born to a mixed-race couple in the "old South Africa (during apartheid)" while the political climate was unstable and in its rebirth stage, my mixed-race background has made me culturally rich. Ancestrally I come from a diverse lineage, I have a Scottish and Irish father, a mother with little french a little Indian (Afghan and Pakistani), I have a little of everything, which has made me the odd one out as I look different from the rest of my family, I do not fit in with the brown people, I do not fit in with the white people and there is nothing wrong with that I do not need to be labeled to feel like I belong, I am one of the reasons why our country is known as the rainbow nation a mix and mashed beautiful product of all that is good. My personality and likes have made me the odd one out and the weird one, luckily my husband is just as weird as I am, I always tell him my weird matches his weird, it makes us a perfect match, we were made for each other destined to be together almost as if it was written in the stars, a destiny fulfilled with a happy future in the ahead of us. Happy and together forever and always, I still find it hard to believe that there is someone out there who not only gets me, who understands me, my way of thinking, and the way I view the world but most importantly who LOVE'S ME for ME! I consider myself spiritual and not religious although I was raised catholic and attended a convent where a lot of who I am today was made. The making of ME! The sisters of mercy and catholicism had the opposite of the intended effect on me I am not deeply rooted in the catholic faith, even though I had many lovable and amazing teachers and friends who made my school days worthwhile. Religion does not make sense to me and I consider much of it to be untrue, designed and shaped to manipulate and to rule the masses or one could say those who prefer not to think for themselves who would rather be sheep and led to the slaughterhouse willingly. My philosophy is this: as long as I love myself and my neighbor I believe I'm living the right way and try to instill those principles and values in my two sons. I believe that knowing and giving Love encompasses all the values needed to live a healthy life, Love naturally breeds, respect, forgiveness, and mindfulness. Love means living from the heart when one lives from the heart it naturally voids the ego, the ego destroys the manically malevolent whereas the heart creates and builds, Love is a tool with which one can build a life rich in emotional health, enlightenment, and mental stability. Love is my church, love is my essence and if ever I am in doubt I read up on the writings left to us by all the great masters, Jesus, Muhammed, Buddha the Dalai lama and so many more masters, some of whom are more modern and still living and basically all their writings convey the message of Love. So this me and there is more to me than what is written here, but what is written here is more than enough to get to know me better.

Born on outskirts of Belgrade – Serbia in family of 4. Immigrated to South Africa in 1991 “running away” from civil war. Even though that I came to South Africa without papers, money, job or being able to speak English, I made this beautiful country my home. My career took me from being a waiter in the restaurant (my first job here) to Restaurant Manager, Sales Manager in Timeshare Company to MD and CEO of ZA Galvanizing. At the end of the August this year I left my last position of Regional Sales Manager of EXIM International. When it comes to business, I am dedicated, punctual, loyal and organized with the skill set that made me achieve any task in front of me with the high rate of success. Privately, I am nature and animal lover, a bit of the environmentalist and lifelong naturist. I am one of the funders and first Chairman of Western Cape Naturist Association – WCNA and South African National Naturist Association – SANNA. Passionate follower and supporter of South African Rugby and F1 Grand Prix.

I am a 26-year-old woman, born and raised in Johannesburg where I have lived my entire life. One of my biggest aspirations is to travel across South Africa and eventually the world. Although I was bred a city girl, my heart lies at sea. Another one of my aspirations is to own a home along the South African coast, within walking distance to the beach. I have been known as a bookworm since childhood. I always preferred to have my nose in a book rather than watching cartoons, hence my passions are reading, writing, and editing. Taking my love for books into account, I decided to study English literature, linguistics, and journalism. I have a great love for animals, and I currently have four dogs and a cat. I also love being out in nature. I am always keen to go hiking, take a trip to the beach, or take the dogs for a walk in the park. Another one of my interests is fashion. I have my own sewing machine and often create clothing for myself. I believe we are all responsible for our actions, and we decide where we want to go in life. I think if you want to do something, and you believe you can do it, you can. All you have to do is put in the effort. Nothing comes easy, but if you put the work in you will achieve your goals and be anything you want to be. This is something I live by. I also think that building relationships and being able to work with others is extremely important. Succeeding in your endeavors often depends on how you work with and treat people, not just on what you can accomplish on your own. I have only started my journey, but I am looking forward to experiencing new things, building good relationships, and making the most out of every situation or opportunity.

I am Alonzo Van Aarde, born on 9th July 2002. I was raised in Cape Town, South Africa, I am the oldest son out of 6 children, Recently (last year 2020) I have matriculated in my hometown, Mitchell’s plain. I never quite had a fixed job but I have had my fair share of holiday jobs in a shoe store it was called first stop shoes in a shopping complex close to home. In my free time I would work private jobs with my father and doing shop fitting and house renovations all over Cape Town. I loved helping my father out. It was also a way for me to have extra pocket money. I also worked at a Taylor blinds company, whereby the production of blinds called Taylor blinds in Montague gardens. I took part in various programs whilst at school, namely, in leadership development skills with a NPO called M.O.V.E and another called J.A.M, where I was taught to run my own business. This was done during my schooling, I have obtained certificates for these courses. These two courses were done over a period of 12 months, I was also an RCL members as well as a Prefect at my school. I am also part of a group called M.O.C (mission of Christ), where I furthered my leadership skills but in a more spiritual sense, in doing so we take part in outreach programs and preach the gospel. I speak fluently in English and Afrikaans. I am currently studying Japanese, because I am intrigued by it. I am computer-literate, Microsoft enabled as well as Linux. I am also a musician. In my spare time, I teach people to play an instrument and also to read music. I also write my own music as well as produce music. I use this skill to help many young and upcoming artists I work with an Organization called My Child Is Your Child, Creating a platform where young people can showcase their talents and make something out of themselves. I live in a rough community where children are killing children and I’ve joined this organization to make a change in a community through various forms of art. My hobbies are, playing different sporting activities, going to the gym, writing music and drawing portraits.

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, I am a 22-year-old who could be described as ambitious, hardworking, and a perfectionist. I enjoy being challenged with new tasks, as I believe discomfort allows one to grow and learn. I enjoy teamwork, but I am also capable of working on my own. I believe that communication is an important aspect of any relationship, especially professional ones, as it doesn’t leave any room for errors or misunderstandings. Therefore, I pride myself on being a skilled communicator. I am organised, goal-driven, and I find it very hard to set a task down once I have started. I may not have the most extroverted personality, but I do enjoy socialising with others in any setting. I recently graduated with a BA in English and Communication Science. While completing my degree, I worked as an editorial intern at Highbury Media, where I gained first-hand experience in editing, publishing, and social media management. I was also able to sharpen my writing skills, which came in handy as I went on to work as a freelance writer for ClubX Magazine for over a year. Even though I do not have years of experience behind me, I am, however, eager to learn. And a fresh mind is always a benefit. When it comes to my free time, I enjoy reading, writing, and painting. I am also currently learning Italian and intend on tackling many other foreign languages.

I am outgoing, dedicated and love new challenges! I believe that a person should work on developing their skills and learning new things all the time. I love sports gaming and fishing during my “downtime”. I believe treating people with integrity and respect will always yield great relationships. I love spending as much time as I can with my family and loved ones. I believe that working together as a whole, we can achieve great things. I am very optimistic and very open-minded when dealing with day-to-day life. I love my animals as they truly bring the best out of me if I have had a long, challenging day. Working as a Manager in the Hospitality industry for nearly a decade I have learnt many valuable lessons and feel I have grown each year bringing great personality, enthusiasm and constructive ideas to the table. I have a positive outlook on life and I wish to share that positivity with you someday! Showing compassion for others in this industry and any industry, I believe will always get positive results. I am, because we are. Bound together in ways that are invisible, humanity is all about being one. Caring unconditionally, and sharing with everyone around us. Combining a salient philosophy of caring and sharing, with the strength of unity and community. We can determine the course of humanity and our destiny, by challenging the digital status quo. “I am, because we are. Together.”

I am a positive, happy person who loves all aspects of my life. I love the beach, animals and children. I am a people’s person. I grew up in the Kruger Park and that is where my love for animals and people comes from. Love working with people from all over the world. I have three beautiful children and an amazing mom whom I adore. I received the most precious gift of all very recently when I was blessed by becoming a grandmother. Like most young people and since I can remember, I had a dream… I just wanted to be a teacher when I grow up. Like a lot of young people, I did not have the means to pursue my dream. At the age of sixteen, I started working in the Kruger Park tourist shop as a cashier during school holidays. Naturally, when I matriculated and because I could not attend a college or university to study what my heart desired, I started working for SANParks. I worked in different departments from the tourist shop to finally being promoted to year in advance bookings at SANParks head office. I will always “want to be a teacher in my heart, but never will I be disappointed for the foundation I had. Working for SANParks gave me the opportunity, confidence and knowledge to work with tourists from all over the world. They had a huge hand in the way I see people and the quality of work I offer. I will always be thankful. I am a loyal, loving, understanding, empathetic and kind individual. I learned a lot about people over the years. People tend to confide in me and I am a very good listener. I can solve problems easily because people listen to me and usually follow my advice. It makes it a lot easier to solve problems in the work place concerning personnel and clients too. I have a sixth sense about people and it usually turns out to be spot on. The way in which I treat people, they will follow my orders without question. I learned a lot during my years working for different companies and working in different departments and environments. I know how to handle myself and every situation and challenge I am faced with. I am hard-working and not afraid to learn new things. I am a quick learner and I always follow through on everything I do. Even if it is a new challenge, I have to tackle and always give a hundred and one percent doing everything that has to be done. I am not afraid to walk the extra mile and to do everything to the best of my ability. I gained a lot of professional work experience. This includes... working as a reservations officer, receptionist, personal assistant, bookkeeper, financial administrator, school tutor and even running my own business for several years. I loved all the careers I pursued but my favorite by far was the work I have done with clients. It would be an honor and privilege to invest the experience I have gained and the skills I have mastered into your company and to share it with the world.

I was born in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, but raised in Jozini, Kwa-Zulu Natal and a Diver at heart. School Holidays were spent on the beach and in the ocean at Sodwana Bay. My Passion for acting started at a young age when I was approached by my arts teacher to play the lead as “Joseph” in that year’s school play, “Joseph and his technicolor dream coat”. In 2006, I moved to Saldanha bay Naval Base to conduct my basic training and upon completion, reported to Simon’s Town Naval Base Diving Centre. I worked at the Naval Diving Centre until mid- 2007, but reported for duty aboard SAS Spioenkop (Naval Warship) later that year and for the rest of my stay in the SA Navy. I resigned from the SA Navy at the end of 2009 to further pursue my childhood passion for acting, after it had been re-ignited back in 2007, when a Production Company came to shoot the one part series, “Diver’s Down”, at the Naval Diving Base where I was stationed. Since then, I performed numerous small roles in Films and TV Shows with goals and aspirations to become a successful actor in the industry. Years later and struggling in the industry, I started a Photography business in 2017 shooting headshots for actors in the industry and also specializing in Real Estate Photography. I also worked in the hospitality industry during this time, working my way up to head of staff at a fine dining Italian Restaurant in the Bellville area of Cape Town. In December 2018 I made the very hard decision to hang up my Actor’s hat and retire from the industry as I needed to make a change. So with a fire in my belly and a pursuit of a new career, I embarked on an old passion within the boating world. I completed my Yacht Master Coastal and SAS Day Skipper certificate followed by a plane ticket to Nice, France. I spent a month walking countless amounts of steps that would make “Discovery Vitality” proud on the docks of the various harbors, handing out my CV in an attempt to book work as crew on board. With a few days worth of day work under the belt and finally booking an interview for a possible crew position, my visa expired, and I needed to come home. Luckily, I was being strongly considered for a position aboard, but I needed to wait for the boat to come out of the drydock. With this, I flew back to SA with a hopeful heart, knowing that I would soon return to France. As things go, the opportunity was cancelled (Owner preferred a merger of the two available roles, and he preferred a female). What to do now? Unemployed and with depleted finances of not being able to return, I started looking for work and was unemployed until Sept the same year when I finally got an opportunity to begin work as a Junior Site Supervisor for a Construction Business (not ideal, but hey challenge accepted and gotta pay dem bills son!). I have since then worked for the same company, building weigh bridges, expanding warehouses, pouring concrete floors and laying paving. I have learned so much and have grown allot since then. Recently I approached and dusted off my photography equipment again and am in the process of starting this up as well. Being in the construction industry has sparked allot of ideas and have given me a new passion for real estate, especially as an Investor. People tend to describe me as ambitious, hardworking, punctual and goal-oriented. I have high attention to detail and work really well in both a team environment and on my own. I am pro-active, a problem solver and creative at heart. I won’t stop until the project or task is completed. More personally, I enjoy the outdoors, love being fit and healthy and spending my off time with my most valuable assets; family and friends. Short term goals: – To learn and grow the new skills required to perform given tasks efficiently and with excellence. -To prove myself a valuable asset, as a hardworking, dependable and trustworthy individual to my fellow colleagues, managers and seniors. Long term goals: -To become one of the best in my department and be seen as the go-to guy for a specific job or task. -To become manager and coach to younger generations looking to enter my industry. -To eventually run a team of managers, teaching them to effectively run their teams with excellence. I believe in serving others with excellence. The effort you put in will reap the results you desire. I also believe that being truthful, respectful and trustworthy are very important keys to success and I strive to live by these principles daily.

I am passionate about my work. Because I love what I do, I have a steady source of motivation that drives me to do my best. In my last job, this passion led me to challenge myself daily and learn new skills that helped me to do better work. I am ambitious and driven. I thrive on challenges and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive toward. I’m not comfortable settling, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness. I am an excellent communicator. I pride myself on making sure people have the right information because it drives better results. Most business issues stem from poor communication, so I feel a responsibility to keep everyone on the same page. I am results-oriented, constantly checking in with the goal to determine how close or how far away we are and what it will take to make it happen. I find this pressure inspiring and a great motivator for the rest of the team. I am highly organized. I always take notes, and I use a series of tools to help myself stay on top of deadlines. I like to keep a clean workspace and create a logical filing method, so I’m always able to find what I need. I find this increases efficiency and helps the rest of the team stay on track, too. I’m a people-person. I love meeting new people and learning about their lives and their backgrounds. I can almost always find common ground with strangers, and I like making people feel comfortable in my presence.

Let our founder, Mikaila, explain the origin of Me & the Bees Lemonade: When I was just four, I got stung by a bee and then got stung again less than a week later! Naturally, I didn't enjoy the bee stings at all and I became scared of bees. But then after doing some research about them, I became fascinated and learned all about what they do for me and our ecosystem. Around that same time, my family encouraged me to make a product for a couple of children's business competitions - the Acton Children’s Business Fair and Austin Lemonade Day. So I put on my thinking cap. I thought about some ideas. While I was thinking, my Great Granny Helen, who lived in Cameron, South Carolina, sent my family a 1940s cookbook, which included her special recipe for flaxseed lemonade. So then I thought, what if I make something that helps honeybees and uses my Great Granny Helen's lemonade recipe? I decided to give her beloved lemonade a new twist by adding honey from bees, instead of only sugar. That's how Be Sweet Lemonade was born! However, we had to change the name due to a copyright issue, so we decided to call it Me & the Bees Lemonade because we give a percentage of sales to help save the bees. We are now celebrating more than 10 years in “buzzness!” Mikaila started her lemonade at youth entrepreneurial events and at her lemonade stand out in front of her home, donating a percentage of the profits to local and international organizations fighting hard to save the honeybees. That is why she touts: “Buy a Bottle… Save a Bee.” Now at age 15, her little idea from more than 10 years ago continues to grow and grow...by more than 500 percent since the company’s humble Austin, Texas-based beginnings. Today, the award-winning, ready-to-drink Me & the Bees Lemonades in five refreshing flavors is buzzing off the shelves of Whole Foods Market, The Fresh Market, World Market, H-E-B stores across Texas and Kroger stores in Houston. It is also available at a growing number of restaurants, food trailers and natural food delivery companies. When not traveling for speaking events to share her stories of being a social entrepreneur, leading workshops on how to save the bees, or participating in social entrepreneurship panels, you can find Mikaila coming up with ideas to help the Healthy Hive Foundation, a nonprofit to further help the mission of saving the pollinators. Mikaila’s first book, Bee Fearless, Dream Like a Kid, launches in August 2020. Published by Penguin Random House, it is about her adventures in being a social entrepreneur and heading up a purpose-based brand aimed at offering premium, all-natural lemonades in a way that helps save the bees.

On January 18, 1921, Annapolis' first public library opened in the municipal building in downtown Annapolis. Today, the Anne Arundel County Public Library has 16 branches to provide services to the residents of Anne Arundel County and strive to become an important link for everyone to learn and enrich.

Stiria, estate 1869. La famiglia dell'anziana Maria Carolina di Borbone, Duchessa di Berry, è riunita per una vacanza al Castello di Brunnsee. La quiete estiva è turbata da un misterioso gentiluomo che consegna una chiave per aprire uno scrigno che Maria Carolina pensava smarrito da tempo. Dal suo interno, una volta recuperato, emergono lettere e oggetti che rimandano alla vita della Duchessa dal 1816, quando era giunta a Parigi da Napoli, sposa di Carlo Ferdinando d'Artois Duca di Berry, fino al 1833, quando era ritornata a Palermo, esule, dopo la sua sfortunata impresa in Vandea come Reggente di Francia. Complice questo ritrovamento, Maria Carolina inizia a raccontare le sue avventure alla nipote Silvia Cavriani. Del misterioso gentiluomo, intanto, solo vaghe notizie, fino a quando, proprio il penultimo giorno di vacanza, l'uomo si presenta al Castello per chiarire ogni cosa. La storia è raccontata da una discendente di Silvia, che ricostruisce i ricordi di una famiglia di altri tempi. Carola Bianco di San Secondo, discendente della Duchessa di Berry si appassiona agli aneddoti raccontati in famiglia e prosegue il lavoro del padre di ricerca sulla sua interessante vita legata alla storia. Decide così di scrivere questo romanzo con riferimenti storici, partendo da un anello di smeraldo che ha ricevuto in eredità. La sua scrittura e fluida, divertente e conduce in un periodo storico di grandi cambiamenti con leggiadria e precisione.

As three friends scattered throughout Europe, we were looking for a way to discover books and share our own recommendations. Nothing cut the mustard, so we took the challenge on. We may not have deep pockets or lots of time, but we're willing to bet we can make up for it by working smart and taking pride in our work. Oku is the companion app for your bookshelf. Become a member for free to track, rate & review your favourite books with a community of others. Every collection on Oku has basic support for RSS feeds. These feeds will let you retrieve the books inside a collection and are supported by many tools such as IFTTT and Zapier.

Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Founded in 2007, Goodreads is where readers find and share books they love. Used by avid and casual readers alike, Goodreads members can discover new books by seeing what their friends are reading or by using the Goodreads Book Recommendation Engine; share ratings and recommendations; track what they have read, and list what they want to read. Goodreads is also a place where authors connect with readers. Goodreads is a subsidiary of Amazon. Did we mention we are hiring? We are a team of 110+ people that are passionate about reading and technology, and looking for extraordinary people to join our team.

HarperCollins occupies a unique place in Australian and New Zealand publishing. In both nations we are the oldest publisher – with a heritage dating back to the bush ballads and school books of the late nineteenth century – and the most forward thinking in terms of our transition to the global digital world of today. Through the decades, our publishing has been distinguished by a commitment to quality and creativity plus an innate understanding of what Australians and New Zealanders want to read and how. Authors and their work have always been at the heart of our company – without authors there would be no HarperCollins. Publishing is a highly collaborative business: everyone in the company contributes in some way to maximising our author’s work. Our company has an equally long heritage globally and indeed today we are able to work more closely than ever before with colleagues around the world to ensure that our local titles are exploited internationally. The modern-day HarperCollins Publishers was founded in 1989 by the amalgamation of three proud publishing houses – Harper & Row (founded in New York in 1817), William Collins (founded in Glasgow in 1819) and Angus & Robertson (founded in Sydney in the 1880s). The Australian story began in 1882 when a sickly young Scotsman, David Mackenzie Angus, arrived in Sydney in the hope that the climate would improve his health. By 1884, he had saved £50 working as a bookseller and was able to open his own secondhand bookshop, where he was joined by a fellow Scotsman George Robertson. Angus & Robertson the bookshop branched into publishing in 1888 with the release of a slim collection of poetry A Crown of Wattle by H. Peden Steele. In 1890, with business booming, it moved to bigger premises at 89 Castlereagh Street, and these offices became a vital part of Australia’s literary life. The first bestseller was A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson’s The Man From Snowy River, which sold 5000 copies in its first four months in 1895 and is still in print (and recited often, sometimes drunkenly, by Australians today). David Angus and George Robertson’s spirit and flair for publishing Australian books for the Australian market saw them discover and promote the most famous names in Australian literature and proved that our writers did not need to go overseas, or get the imprimatur of publishers in London or New York, to make their name. Henry Lawson, Ethel Turner, C.J. Dennis, May Gibbs, Norman Lindsay, Miles Franklin and Dorothy Wall all made their names with the help of Angus & Robertson and, in the twentieth century, they were joined on the list by Xavier Herbert, Eleanor Dark, Eve Langley, Elyne Mitchell, Ruth Park, Kylie Tennant, Jon Cleary, Frank Moorhouse and Peter Goldsworthy. Many of their timeless books are linchpins of our A&R Classics series, most recently rejacketed in 2013. Several of the company’s larger-than-life publishing staff also became icons in their own right: legendary editor Beatrice Davis and publishers Douglas Stewart and Richard Walsh all helped shape Australian literary life and publishing. In May 2009, HarperCollins took over the responsibility for the ABC Books business, which brought us into close partnership with the national broadcaster. The ABC imprint, publishing non-fiction and children’s books, has a distinct identity in line with the broadcaster’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Hachette Australia is a team of expert publishers and passionate readers dedicated to discovering and supporting talented writers and working with them to craft exceptional stories. We select the very best, whatever the genre – from high-quality commercial fiction to literary award-winners, children’s picture books and adventure stories to memoirs and history, lifestyle and sport. And then we pour 100 years of publishing excellence into every page, bringing them to readers in the formats that they love. We are the Australian specialists in the global publishing house Hachette Livre. Our editorial team are dedicated to seeking out and developing writing talent from our home shores. We have our own production, sales, marketing and publicity teams who work closely with authors and editors locally and across the world to curate the very best reading experience for Australian readers. We are proud to have discovered, nurtured and shared some of the most exciting and bestselling authors in Australia, and the world. Please explore the rest of the site to make your own discoveries from our list, and sign up to hear what we’re working on at the moment.

I am 56 years old and love life ! and am engaged to a wonderful man and we have been together for 9 years. I have 1 son who lives in Houston, Texas with his lovely wife and my 2 beautiful grandchildren. I have 1 sister who is sadly disabled. She has Motor Neuron Disease and is paralysed from the neck down. She has had this debilitating illness since 1998. I care very deeply for her and continue to walk this hard, painful journey with her. I would love to one day open up a strung of Care Homes called Mandy in honour of her. Watching your disabled sister struggle every day has been heart breaking but through this I have learnt the art of caring, giving and kindness. To be able to help and be there for those less fortunate than you is a heartwarming experience and exceptionally rewarding. My passion is travelling – I absolutely LOVE IT ! My sport is Golf and because I have such an adventurous, extrovert personality I also love a lot of other things like Boating, Fishing, Cooking, Drinking wine and socialising. The list is so long because I am always willing to try new things and experience new places. I am an extrovert in personality and love bringing out the best in people. My profession at the moment is a Key accounts Manager for a Surgical Equipment company. I have been with them for 14 years. I have vast experience in Sales and Customer service and represent my company by calling on all Hospitals – Private and Provincial throughout the entire Eastern Cape. I work with doctor’s in theatre and am skilled in the sale of Medical Equipment for Trauma, Gynie, Urology, General Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Gastro-Enterology, Ultrasound etc. Prior to being a Surgical Rep I was a Medical Rep for 20 years calling on General Practioners, Pharmacists and Physicians selling Pharmaceutical Drugs. I also have experience in the setting up of Vaccine Clinics and GIT Units. My passion is service and looking after my customers. I love to make a difference in everything that I do and work hard. I love to make people smile ! I am a great organiser and get things done. I am very loyal in business and in my private life and am committed to whatever I sign up for. You will always be able to rely on me. I would say that I am a Spiritual person. I have a genuine passion for seeking out the truth of all things. and placing myself on a sacred path of self discovery. I learn every day and try to live my life with a curious, grateful heart. I believe we can all be kind if we want to be and we can all make a difference in someone’s life if we want to. I Want to make a difference in the world ! I know I can.

Breeze Publishing is an independent publishing company that is based in Durban. Breeze Publishing was established in October 2006 by its managing partner and businesswoman Naseema Mall, who served her apprenticeship at New Vision Publishers in Egypt where she worked for five years. It is during these formative years that she gained a wealth of experience in the field of publishing and printing, and was inspired to start her own publishing company in South Africa, upon her return to the country. Although relatively small, Breeze Publishing has entrenched itself in the local market by publishing quality books of a variety of themes and categories, both in fiction and non-fiction; for the adult, teen and children’s markets. Naseema found a niche in the market when she met numerous writers of all genres who had good quality manuscripts but had no idea about what the publishing process entails and how to establish themselves as authors. With a growing demand from aspiring writers abroad, she took a special interest when internationally acclaimed and renowned business leadership trainer, Mirza Yawar Baig from India was seeking a South African publisher. Several book launches on behalf of this esteemed author helped propel the company, and the company has entrenched its footprint in the South African publishing industry. Among some of Breeze Publishing’s most popular publications are the poetry anthologies In Love’s Way by Abdulla Amla and Wounds & Wings by Bilkis Moolla. Breeze Publishing has also produced popular recipe books. The company is set on launching the careers of aspiring writers and is continuously being approached by both local and foreign authors. We carefully select manuscripts of essence and quality for the pleasure of readers worldwide.

BEYOND PROFESSIONAL BOOK PUBLISHING! We are the only book publishing company that treat books as serious business… We are your book's business partner. At Grashyo Publishers, we believe that writing is serious business if you treat it as such. Therefore, we look beyond just professional self-publishing with us; you are our business partner. Grashyo Publishers' focal points are beyond literature, text quality and the likes. Relevance to your marketplace as an author remains imperative to us. Our vision is to create a platform for existing, aspiring writers, and storytellers through skills-enhancement, tailor-made independent sales and marketing strategies, while continually enhancing Editorial services for a growing literate community. Grashyo Publishers’ focuses on fiction and non-fiction stories to avoid splitting energies, which enhances concentration to our clients’ hard work. MIssion Grashyo Publishers with its team of publishing professionals and service providers focus on authors’ relevance in the marketplace. We constantly create and design goods and services that keep our contributors and client relevant at all times in every corner.

My name is Luis Guillermo Castro Martin. I am a philosopher specialized in philosophy of mind and language. In particular, I am interested in the nature of consciousness, and the way in which we experience and interpret the world. I started my studies at the Central University of Venezuela in 2006, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy (2011) and a master’s degree in logic and philosophy of science (2015). In 2012, the university offered me a position as a professor of philosophy and I taught several courses there until 2017, when I enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Genoa, Italy. I have also published several papers in philosophy journals and participated in various international events. In 2020, while writing my PhD thesis, I realized that I had been immersed in philosophy for too long and decided to use my experience to rejoin the real world. In my years studying philosophy, I have learned many things, but the most important is that the world is what we make of it, there is no ultimate truth, no final word. We create our reality. Knowledge has somehow separated us from others and nature, perhaps it can also reunite us. Although I was born in Venezuela, my family is a blending of different nationalities and traditions. I have lived and studied in different countries, which are all part of who I am and what I want to be. My actions define me, not my nationality or my origins. I do not believe in borders or limits; they are only in our minds. The sensation of not belonging can be liberating, once we realize that, by not belonging somewhere, we belong everywhere. I speak three languages (Spanish, English, and Italian) and I enjoy learning from other cultures, as well as transmitting the values of my own. I also enjoy music, sports and nature. I am the author of “Fragments of Mind” on Substack. A space for thinking outside the box, while discussing philosophical matters.

Established in 1998, Bargain Books is South Africa’s leading discount book retailer with 82 stores in all 9 provinces. Our mission is to provide our customers with quality and innovative products, value for money and excellent service. Bargain Books is proud to have won SA Bookseller of the year 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. We are the leaders in Afrikaans, Children’s and Mass Market fiction in SA. We have an extensive product offering, many exclusive to Bargain Books and also publish Afrikaans Children’s Books. Bargain Books has long been devoted to delivering on four unique and particular strengths: range, convenience, service and value. With range, we strive to make a broad spectrum of books available, ensuring that popular authors and current bestsellers are on display along with books of specific local interest and hidden gems. Drawing from the wide knowledge base of our passionate booksellers allows us to represent an expansive range of interests and voices, and our far-reaching network of suppliers means that, even if a particular title is not on the shelves, we can order in just about any book you should want. In championing convenience, we do everything we can to encourage a stress free and rewarding shopping experience. Via careful use of eye-catching displays and intuitive layouts, and by locating bestsellers and sought-after titles near the entrance, we ensure that your visit to our store can be as quick and easy as you want it to be. And you’ll never have trouble spotting a bookseller if you have a question that you’d like answered quickly. We remain sensitive to the fact that lengthy shop visits can be disconcerting due to Covid-19, so we are conscientious about facilitating simple, safe book shopping. Our commitment to service manifests in the brilliant teams of booksellers that serve every store, teams who ensure that you get the book you’re after every time you visit, that you are treated with respect, and that there is always knowledgeable assistance should you want some recommendations. And finally, with value, we consistently make sure that you are getting great products for your money – and this often means that big titles, children’s books, fiction and gifts are available at uniquely low prices. By combining these four essential principles, we ensure that your every visit to Bargain Books is effective and enjoyable, that you will always receive any assistance that you need, and that you will be thrilled by what you can find here and by just how much you can get for your money.

Here at Mary-Ann’s, we pride ourselves in bringing our customers the absolute best quality products available with minimum carbon footprint… even our packaging is made from plants… cellophane is made from tree cellulose and can bio-degrade in your compost heap. At Mary-Ann's Natural Emporium we have a vegan restaurant where we serve light healthy lunches and drinks, to inspire you to make delicious healthy meals at home. We also have an online store that offers hand made and sourced natural and organic food and household products that will help make it easier for you to be healthy. Mary-Ann also has several books on natural health – making it simple to be healthy.

Moglie, madre, nonna, Paola Thaon di Revel ama i fiori e la natura. L'eredità è il suo background. È cresciuta in una famiglia dove la disciplina militare era un dato di fatto, così come la voglia di divertirsi. Sei sorelle e un fratello, in una grande villa chiamata “Cimena”, dove molti sono venuti in visita: da Umberto I, agli americani colti, ai vicini Bruni Tedeschi sulla stessa collina. Una vita dedicata al marito, Franco Reviglio e ai tre figli con tanti spostamenti e viaggi, in tutto il mondo. Oggi, i sette nipoti e la casa di campagna, regalano giornate intensamente soddisfacenti. Wife, mother, grandmother, Paola Thaon di Revel loves flowers and nature. Heritage is her background. She grew up in a family where military discipline was a given, as well as the desire to have fun. Six sisters and one brother, in a large villa called “Cimena”, and everyone came to visit: from Umberto I, to educated Americans, to the Bruni Tedeschi neighbours on the same hill. A life dedicated to her husband, Franco Reviglio and the three children with many moves and travels, all over the world. Today, the seven grandchildren and country house, make for intensely satisfying days.

Not so long ago our founders, Gauthier and Matt, were students struggling to pay for textbooks, like so many of their peers. Textbook prices continue to skyrocket, leaving students unable to afford the resources they need. Some students resort to piracy and second-hand books, but many others are priced out of the education system altogether. This not only limits student’s access to knowledge but also leaves researchers, authors and the publishing industry at a loss. Perlego was born to provide an affordable (and sustainable) textbook solution for learners around the world, by partnering with publishers and removing the costs of print, distribution, and retail markup. We believe education has the power to transform lives. By empowering people with all the resources they need to learn, we can give everyone a fair chance at a brighter future. Knowing which sources you can trust has never been more important. By partnering with publishers, we support researchers and the creation of trustworthy educational resources. We’ve built sustainability into our core by cutting out resource-heavy print and distribution services. As we grow, we’re working hard to make a positive impact on our planet.

Die GLS Bank ist in Deutschland die Refernz für sozial und ökologisches Banking. Wer bei der GLS Bank Kunde ist, kann sich sicher sein, dass sein Geld dazu beiträgt die Zukunft zu gestalten, die wir uns alle wüsnchen. Investitionen gehen in eigens sehr strickt aufgelegte Fonds welche das 1.5°C Ziel bereits erfüllen. Keine Kinderarbeit, keine Waffen, kein Genforschung oder andere negativ Themen - sondern erneuerbare Energien, Soziales und Kultur, ökologische Landwirtschaft, Ernährung, nachhaltige Wirtschaft und weitere positiv beitragende Vorhaben werden ausschließlich unterstützt. Als Kunde bei der Bank trägt man dazu bei, dass ausschließlich diese positiven Projekte gefördert werden. Der strickte Zuspruch zu sozial und ökologischen Projekten wird bei allen Produkten, die ein Kunde von seiner Bank kennt (Baugredite, Firmenkredite, Altersovrsorge, Anlagen, Investitionen etc) unabweichlich eingehalten. Privatpersonen, Firmen und Vereine werden darüber hinaus aktiv unterstützt ihrn eigenen Impact zu verbessern. Die GLS Bank ist eine Universal-Bank, bei welcher man nahezu alle Finanzdienstleistungen in Anspruch nehmen kann - jedoch immer unter einer strickten sozial, ökologischen und nachhaltigen Perspektive. Die Bank ist überwiegend in Deutschland tätig. Es können alle Dienste online wahrgenommen werden und es gibt mehrere Filialen für den persönlichen Besuch. Desweiteren besticht die Bank durch Ihre Rechtsform, die Genossenschaft. Die mitgleiderbestimmte Gesellschaftsform ist darauf gegründet in Gemeinschaft einen gesellschaftlich positiven Beitrag zu leisten. Mit der GLS Bank gibt es keinen Bedarf mehr als Privatperson sowie Firma bei einer konventionellen Bank zu sein und indirekt Umweltvernichtende Projekte zu unterstützen. Die GLS Bank bietet den vollumassenden Banken-Service mit reinem und ehrlichem guten Gewissen. Klimaschutz kann so einfach sein: Werde jetzt Mitglied bei der GLS Bank. The GLS Bank is the reference for social and ecological banking in Germany. Anyone who is a customer of GLS Bank can be sure that their money will help shape the future that we all want. Investments are made in specially designed funds that already meet the 1.5 ° C target. No child labor, no weapons, no genetic research or other negative topics - only renewable energies, social affairs and culture, ecological agriculture, nutrition, sustainable economy and other positively contributing projects are exclusively supported. As a customer at the bank, you help ensure that only these positive projects are funded. The strict encouragement to social and ecological projects is inevitably complied with for all products that a customer knows from their bank (building loans, corporate loans, old-age provision, systems, investments, etc.). Private individuals, companies and associations are also actively supported to improve their own impact. The GLS Bank is a universal bank, where you can take advantage of almost all financial services - but always under a strict social, ecological and sustainable perspective. The bank operates predominantly in Germany. All services can be used online and there are several branches for personal visits. Furthermore, the bank impresses with its legal form, the cooperative. The member-determined form of society is based on making a socially positive contribution in community. With the GLS Bank, there is no longer any need to be a private person or company with a conventional bank and indirectly support environmentally damaging projects. GLS Bank offers the full banking service with a clear and honest good conscience. Climate protection can be so easy: become a member of GLS Bank now.

Hans-Juergen Wiegand is a man who lives his work passions and family, with determination. A philanthropist, who has held important positions in the chemical and automotive world, in particular with Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz). He loves to travel, attaining knowledge and experience from different cultures. These experiences have shaped him, with a particular acumen in recognizing the best in human beings. Hans thrives on helping young people, to realize their dreams, as he has realized his own. Hans is an inspirational leader, with the competence to restructure and transform organizations. He is very flexible with people, and stands like a rock when it comes to principles. Whatever happens, he will always stay positive.

Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. We believe that bookstores are essential to a healthy culture. They’re where authors can connect with readers, where we discover new writers, where children get hooked on the thrill of reading that can last a lifetime. They’re also anchors for our downtowns and communities. As more and more people buy their books online, we wanted to create an easy, convenient way for you to get your books and support bookstores at the same time. If you want to find a specific local bookstore to support, find them on our map, and they’ll receive the full profit off your order. Otherwise, your order will contribute to an earnings pool that will be evenly distributed among independent bookstores (even those that don’t use Bookshop). We also support anyone who advocates for books through our affiliate program, which pays a 10% commission on every sale, and gives a matching 10% to independent bookstores. If you are an author, a website or magazine, have a bookclub, an organization that wants to recommend books, or even just a book-lover with an Instagram feed, you can sign up to be an affiliate, start your own shop, and be rewarded for your advocacy of books. Bookshop wants to give back to everyone who promotes books, authors, and independent bookstores! By design, we give away over 75% of our profit margin to stores, publications, authors and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books! We hope that Bookshop can help strengthen the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keep local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities. Bookshop is a benefit corporation - a corporation dedicated to the public good.

Mandy Shrimpton is the quintessential people’s person. Mandy believes that success is measured by the quality of our human-relationships rather than the results we manifest through sheer will. Mandy firmly established herself as the heart of the non-profit organisation that she co-founded and ran with her adoring husband for 17 years. Mandy loves walking in nature with her family, hugging trees, and preserving the environment. She also enjoys being creative and is particularly fond of painting flowers. As a very happily married and devoted mother to four children, Mandy has cultivated a deep appreciation for the culinary arts and relishes the spare moments she gets to watch her favourite cooking shows. This initiative reflects how Mandy sees the world, helping to create positive synergy. Fostering unity and courteous community, building partner relationships and motivating affiliates. Born and bred in Africa, Mandy understands the concept of Ubuntu. I am, because we are. Together we can make the world a better place. Using her skills and experience to make a difference. Helping others see through the fog of new technologies, avoid common marketing mistakes and develop better business strategies. With a subtle blend of motherhood and effective project management, Mandy is the perfect professional partner, to show others the merits of this initiative. Shining a light on the path to prosperity, while not losing our footing in family values and humble humanity. Sharing is caring, while enriching ourselves spiritually and materially. We cannot give freely, if we don't have. "Sometimes the world makes more sense, through the eyes of a mother. Using protective instinct and family fortitude, to help one another." ~ Mandy Shrimpton

Anyone can be a Heritage Ambassador. Help take our past into the future. Spread the word and generate revenue. Make heritage your business and earn with your passion for art and culture. ArtAcadia.org is an umbrella organization for everything pertaining to our heritage and respective cultures. Providing a platform for Heritage Ambassadors, to help take our past into the future. We are a passionate community that is compiling a comprehensive global directory and cultural map. Facilitating networking, training, work opportunities, events and marketplace.