Reviewed by Dianne Bates
 
There are no recipes in this slim (36 page) book which has the words ‘No crazy diets. No exhausting exercises,’ on the front cover. Nor is this book concerned with diets. Instead, it is a simple, commonsense guide to show how to stop cravings for unhealthy foods, and make sure you eat the most nutritious foods in the correct amount. This, says the author, is how to help you lose weight and improve your health.
 
Ouston tells how, in her twenties, she resolved never to be overweight. Thus, she instigated a practical plan to eat sensibly using food from the five groups every day – vegetables, grain, proteins, dairy, and good fats. And, too, she resolved to drink plenty of water to remove toxins from her body. She eschews foods containing saturated fat, added salt and sugars, and alcohol. On the other hand, she includes a ‘treat’ of ice-cream or a slice of cake once a week, making sure she limits the other foods she eats that day, so she doesn’t take in too many extra calories. Her advice is backed up by the recommendations in the Australian dietary guidelines on the www.eatforhealth.gov.au website.
 
As for exercise, Ouston spends at least 30 minutes five days a week mostly walking to strengthen her body. She mentions other forms of exercise, such as yoga, swimming, or exercising in the pool.
 
An important feature of Slim and Healthy is Ouston’s use of mantras – mind training -- which she repeats at least ten times a day. These includes mantras such as: ‘I only eat food that is good for me’, ‘I eat three small, nutritious meals a day’, and ‘Between meals I only eat small quantities of fruit or vegetables.’ There are mantras on labels in the back of the book which can be cut out and posted where they are visible daily. The author suggests the reader creates her own mantras, always written in first person, present tense.
 
Ouston says, "Losing weight is not an easy thing to do. … the most sensible thing to do was not to put it on in the first place. Many think this is not possible, but I have maintained my weight for all my adult life, so I can testify that it is possible.” She invites the reader to approach their own goals for health and fitness with determination and expectation. “If you do this,” she says, “you will succeed.”


Go to the book's page to learn more. 

Here’s a fact nobody wants to hear: one in seven people who are experiencing homelessness are children under 12. Another fact: eight out of every 1000 children in Australia are in out-of-home care. And a third fact: Australia has a shortage of foster carers.

These facts are what make Kids on the Run, a new mid-grade fiction by award-winning Australian author, Dianne Bates, so poignant, real and eye-opening.

Fourteen-year-old Josh is well-experienced with life on the streets and in foster care – but he’s finally been placed with a family in a home where he feels safe. Sure, he has to share with eleven-year-old Brodie and Jaylee, who is only three, but he has a bed to sleep in and food to eat. It will do for now.

Except, good things never last, do they?

On his first night, Josh awakes to the scared whisper of Jaylee and the smell of smoke. He grabs both children, and their bags, and the three escape unharmed. With the house well and truly alight, and surrounded by fire trucks, Josh is petrified he will be blamed for the fire. So he does the only thing he can do – he runs. And Brodie and Jaylee follow him.

Josh is used to looking after himself, but he’s never had to look after anyone else – let alone two traumatised children. But now, he has no choice.

Author Dianne Bates has crafted a story that is both sensitive and full of tension; both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. There is the slightest sense of a Hardy Boys adventure, or even Famous Five – but without the gloss and the lemonade for tea, because this is contemporary Australia.
Dianne’s portrayal of the three children, with her carefully developed characterisation, is real and believable. They have personalities that complement each other, and each character has their own arc – particularly Josh who discovers a part of himself – and a worth – that he didn’t think existed. To avoid the stereotype of ‘the homeless’ and ‘the foster child’ took skilful writing and a deep understanding; Josh, Brodie and Jaylee could each well be anyone’s child, sibling, friend or student.

The events that befall the children as they try to avoid capture by the police and find a safe place to stay are both ‘unbelievable’ yet realistic. For those of us from privileged backgrounds, who is to say these things could not happen? And therein lies the power of Kids on the Run – the ability to open readers’ eyes to a reality through story.     
Despite the raw reality of the story, Kids on the Run is perfect for a young mid-grade readership, but should also be read by parents, carers and teachers – both independently and with their children and students as it is sure to inspire deeper conversations, reflections, awareness and tolerance.
There are tough themes to deal with – poverty, parental loss and homelessness, among others – but intertwined are also messages of resilience, empathy and loyalty.
​
Thank you, Dianne Bates, for writing this important story.
 

​This is not a recipe book or a diet plan book. It is not a book about using a difficult and strict diet and exercise to lose weight and keep it off.

​This book will give you a much easier way of doing both. 

It will show you how to stop your cravings for unhealthy foods and make sure you eat the most nutritious foods in the correct amount to help you lose weight and improve your health. 

Elaine says, “I realised in my twenties that the most sensible thing to do was not to put it on in the first place. 

Many think this is not possible, but I have maintained my weight for all of my adult life, so I can testify that it is possible. And you can use the same method I used, to maintain your weight or lose the extra weight you gained and to keep it off. Let me show you how.” 

You can learn more on the book's page, Slim and Healthy the Easy Way.  

​BOOK INFORMATION: 

Informative reading for anyone interested in learning more about our amazing continent, this would also be an ideal guide for overseas tourists, grey nomads, and anyone else travelling our amazing country. The places listed are not in the usual travel brochures and are not to be missed. 

SYNOPSIS: Wild Extremes is here to uncover Australia's geographical records: like where is the longest beach, the deepest lakes, the oldest rocks and the hottest springs. This isn't a book of endless records but rather tells the backstory to Australia's geographic records. It explores the controversies around records and looks at how plants and animals have adapted to places of extreme.

This is a unique story of the continent and islands of Australia. It scrutinises this nation through the lens of its geographic records. It explores Australia's deserts, beaches, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, aquifers and lakes. But have you also wondered about Australian glaciers, or volcanoes? Where are the largest and oldest meteorite craters? What were the largest earthquakes? Where are the largest waves and why are marine megafauna attracted to submarine canyons that incise Australia's continental shelf? 

These questions and more are answered when we examine Australia's Wild Extremes.

Buy the book: Wild Extremes

Meet the author, Ray Andrews.

The author, Sally de Gruchy and illustrator, Kat Buchanan, of this enchanting and valuable children's book had fun recently signing books at Glee Books in Sydney.

The store gave them a great and well-deserved review. If you live in Sydney, pop in for a signed copy. 

Or buy your copy from our bookshop:
A Rabbit's Tale - Morris Publishing Australia

Morris Publishing Australia now offers Assisted Independent Book Publishing:

Watching the struggle of many authors to find a traditional publisher or to self-publish their books for a reasonable price and with the best outcome, we have decided to offer a publishing option for them. Our option allows them to be published by Morris Publishing Australia, an established traditional publishing house, which will take away the stigma of being self-published and give them more chance of selling their book. Having said that, Morris Publishing Australia will still be choosing books that they believe are ready to publish and have a good chance of success.

Many years ago, the only option for authors to publish was to pitch to a traditional publisher or spend huge amounts of money to pay vanity publishers for not much gain. Many authors have fallen victim to companies who take advantage of vulnerable creatives looking to share their story by not making sure the book was ready for sale and offering no help with marketing. And they charged huge amounts that the author could never recoup.

While traditional publishing is every author’s dream, the market is swamped with submissions. The publishers have a limited number of books that they publish every year and have to choose what they believe will sell. As we know, many have been wrong and turned down books that have become best sellers and made a fortune for the publisher that was wise enough to take them, and for the authors.

What is assisted Independent Publishing? Follow this link to the submissions page to find out. 

Check out their website. You'll find all our books there plus books by other Australian authors. Australian Books Distributors: Australian Books Distributors - Home (ausbooksdist.org)

ONE FOR THE SCIENCE FICTION LOVERS! 
Can a human mind exist in a cybernetic brain in an animal body, stuck in an endless cycle of life, death, and reincarnation without losing their humanity and their minds? 

Review: 'The emotional struggle of the carnivorous animals as they fight human morals and emotions that interfere with the need to kill for food is handled well.

As if that isn't enough, they have to fight to save their species and themselves from a madman out to torture and kill them.

Although it contains violence that may offend some, the story is gripping and you won't be able to put this down once you start.'

​GO TO THE BOOK'S PAGE TO READ MORE.