Stay strong in adversity, and laugh the socks off the many absurdities of life. Frances was born in the Wairarapa, New Zealand, in 1948—a post-war baby-boomer. She was raised in Northland. Her varied careers have included bun-running, journalism, radio presentation and tour leading. Her dad always said she was of Spanish descent—something about the Spanish Armada sinking off the Cornwall coast, sailors who swam ashore, and the rest (as they say) is history! She has lived in the USA, and has travelled to Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, to name a few. Her heart races every time she hears a Latin beat. This love of all things South American drove her to learn Spanish, dance the rumba and the samba, sample pisco sours and devour Latin American history. This reflective look at Frances’ journey through life contains hearty helpings of humour. REVIEWS “ Never a dull moment! Those words must’ve been spoken over Frances Hall the day she was born. Because, in a world littered with well-meaning people who bore their friends to death, Frances has always done the exact opposite. Especially to those of us who’ve wandered the road with her. Full of fun, and sometimes mad as a meat-axe, she’s made the most of an overflowing (and by no means easy-peasy) life.” John Cooney, publisher Grapevine Magazine “Scatterlogical Wisdom is a delight to read. Frances Hall has written about her life with humour and grace, in a way that embraces how messy and unpredictable real-life can be.” Karen McMillan, author

Bind: paperback

Pages: 204

Dimensions: 148 x 210 mm

Publication Date: 05-05-2020

You want to be your own boss? What are the key factors determining whether or not you will succeed? Test your business sense by ranking yourself against seven key qualities. If you can give yourself a tick for each of these then you deserve to take on business ownership with confidence. Many owners do not understand these qualities and regrettably join the 50% of businesses that fail in their first five years. Two seemingly identical businesses start. Why does one succeed and the other fail? What does it mean when an owner has good business sense? Some small businesses perform well ahead of their competitors. Their owners come from a wide range of educational backgrounds (some minimal), technical skills, ages and experience but the businesses stand out because these owners share seven qualities. Many potential owners are reluctant to step from wage earner to business owner because they perceive the challenges are overwhelming. They are intimidated by the jargon and complexities that may confront them. If they bring key personal qualities to the business then the path to success will not be as complicated as it may seem.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 146

Dimensions: 150 x 210 mm

Publication Date: 30-04-2020

No need to keep buying the same vegetables you eat all the time over and over again. Regrow Your Veggies is an insightful guide that provides effective propagation techniques to recycle and regrow more than 20 popular vegetables right at home! Learn how to have a source of fresh and healthy vegetables close by, from onions and sweet potatoes to pineapples and mangoes, reduce waste, and know how to prevent and solve issues with pesky pests and pathogens. Get the most out of your favorite foods and produce your own produce!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 142

Dimensions: 175 x 225 mm

Publication Date: 20-02-2020

Te wheke means octopus in te reo Maori. For many cultures the Pacific Ocean, this resourceful, adventurous creature is a symbol of early voyages from the Polynesian homelands of Hawaiki. In Aotearoa New Zealand, conventional art history tells the stories of art that ties us to Britain and Europe. This book looks in a different direction - from the Pacific outwards. Te Wheke features a selection of excellent examples of art from Aotearoa and the Pacific, each with a short text opening up conversations about the journeys, tensions and connections that shape Oceania's past, present and future.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 232

Publication Date: 24-04-2020

Your mission: Locate and destroy the virus and then escape from the scientific compound before the time-travel portal closes forever! With the help of Dooz, your faithful robot, you have been teleported to the year 2394! In this era, a mad scientist plans to paralyze the entire world using a powerful cyber virus . . . In a few moments, it will be too late! Choose to solve this challenge on your own or with a friend! Either way, let’s go!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 48

Dimensions: 205 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 20-02-2020

Your mission: find and recover the dragon egg from the castle before the spatial-temporal portal closes forever! With the help of Dooz, your faithful robot, you have been teleported to the Middle Ages. In this epoch, King Badking rules; he has stolen the last dragon egg and plans to make an omelet out of it for his son . . . In a few minutes, it will be too late. Choose to solve this challenge on your own or with a friend! Either way, let’s go!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 48

Dimensions: 205 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 20-02-2020

Learn all the steps necessary to make a variety of colorful, decorative, useful boxes created from book board and covered with decorative papers and book cloth. Nearly 300 color photos illustrate every step needed to make hinged lid, clamshell, and creative boxes. Necessary tools and materials are discussed in detail, and essential formulas are provided for each box type discussed. Basic skills necessary for the successful production of any box are also explored, including determining grain direction, pattern layout, cutting materials, covering book board with paper or book cloth, and gluing. Also provided are box making resources, a useful glossary of terms, and an appendix featuring measurement conversions. This 2nd edition includes a brand-new chapter on divided boxes, as well as additional creative box examples to further inspire you as you explore the craft.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 96

Dimensions: 217 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 20-02-2020

Bookworms derive great pleasure from the simple act of reading. But what happens when a book is old or damaged and no longer in a fit state to be read? Through 20 do-it-yourself projects, Upcycling Books: Decorative Objects gives your tattered friends a new lease on life. With simple techniques and common household materials, you can upcycle an old atlas, dog-eared comics, or an obsolete set of encyclopedias. Projects include party decorations, a woven basket, a smartphone charger, a mail organizer, a secret storage box, and an origami lampshade. Links to videos show a process or technique in detail, while templates can be printed for use. More than 30 variations and suggestions will further inspire you. Don’t let old books gather dust; give them a new purpose with Upcycling Books.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 217 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 20-01-2020

In just five simple steps, children can make a variety of whimsical objects such as race cars, a rabbit, a puzzle, and a marble run out of wood. Fourteen projects make clever use of commonly available materials and simple tools, turning clothespins, corkboard, and wooden blocks into lasting crafts and toys. Children five years and older will develop fine motor skills, feed their creativity, and be encouraged to find new uses for everyday objects.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 32

Dimensions: 212 x 212 mm

Publication Date: 20-01-2020

In just five simple steps, children can make fun, memorable crafts out of plastic, including an octopus, a hairy bug, a puppet theater, and gifts for friends. Fourteen projects make clever use of plastic items we find in our everyday lives, such as cups, plates, hair curlers, and drinking straws. Children five years and older will develop fine motor skills, feed their creativity, and be encouraged to find new uses for items we often see as disposable.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 32

Dimensions: 212 x 212 mm

Publication Date: 20-01-2020