Diamond In The Sky

At twenty-one, Deen is dismayed by the poverty around him and trapped in negativity. Alienated from family and society, heroin is his drug of choice. Deen and his partner in crime, AJ, ride high on acid and amphetamines, philosophize in the university canteen, party in a politician’s posh pad and contemplate God at a roadside tea stall. From Maria, a chemically imbalanced diva, to a rickshaw-walla who reflects on the importance of positive energy, to a group of fakirs who sing about love, and a detective who has his own take on addiction, the characters in Shazia Omar’s debut novel crackle with life. They represent the despair, hopes and aspirations of a generation struggling to survive in the harsh realities of life in modern Dhaka. Hard-hitting and intensely moving, this is an extraordinary novel, and one that is destined to launch Omar as a major contemporary voice from South Asia. Published by Zubaan.

Why God? Everyone that I saw asked the same questions: Why God? Why has this happened to us? I wondered if we had done something really bad to bring David’s death upon us. I had always prayed to God for him to protect Dan and our children. I asked God to put a protective shield around them everywhere they went and to bring them back safely to me. I believed with all my heart that God would answer my prayers. Three months before David’s accident, I was sitting in the den talking with one of my son-in-laws about what I believed. He said “Linda, death is real…we humans don’t have any control over it.” David was sitting in a recliner listening to us and he said, “Mama, he’s right; we don’t ever know.” There was a big game going on in Heaven in honor of Christ’s birthday. They needed a catcher, so I got the Call, “Come on son, come play in our Game today!” My dear family and friends remembered when those tears start to fill your eyes; just go outside and look up towards the stars for I will be playing on the “Diamond in the sky!”

The story behind the classic and universally recognized rhyme! This luminous picture book biography shines a light on the little-known poet and author of the beloved lullaby. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Did you ever wonder who wrote that famous verse? In the days when most girls were brought up to run a home, Jane Taylor had a different kind of education in the English countryside, where she was inspired by nature and the stars, and dreamed of becoming a writer. But in the late 1700s, it was not considered proper for women to be writers. Jane and other female poets were shunned, unable to use their own names when published.But Jane did write, and she never forgot her love for the beauty of nature and the glow of stars, or her desire to write for children. Her published poetry became universally known for generations to come: Twinkle, twinkle little star. This lyrical and luminous biography shines a light on the unsung poet who wrote the words of our most enduring lullaby, and features stunning artwork reflecting the world, the stars, and the story behind the poem that we all know so well.

Enter the magical world of mermaids! This colourful fairy tale is poetically written with a heartwarming message for children -- you will always shine brightest as yourself. A light fills the ocean each night on their swim. A tale of enchantment is told from within. Kya is a young mermaid, fascinated by a night star. A long time ago, near the very same sea, there was a young girl who longed to be a part of the ocean. She admired its beauty and the magical creatures who graced the seashore. She wished to be something she was not, but she had a lesson to learn. The ones we admire often admire us. Come beneath the sea to find out how Kya and her friends explore the ocean at night . . .

This book tells two stories. The first and most obvious is why the star known as Sirius has been regarded as an important fixture of the night sky by many civilizations and cultures since the beginnings of history. A second, but related, narrative is the prominent part that Sirius has played in how we came to achieve our current scientific understanding of the nature and fate of the stars. This is the first book to integrate the cultural history of Sirius with modern astrophysics in a way which provides a realistic view of how science progresses over time.

The isolated beauty of the Australian East Kimberley desert can be a haven for those who can stand the heat, but its isolated beauty can also be deadly. The remote Matsu diamond mine in the Kimberley is the perfect place for engineer Dru Porter to hide. The vast and rugged landscape helps her feel invisible . . . and safe. Security specialist Connor Kirk is investigating stolen diamonds onsite and he knows from experience that beautiful women are capable of deceit. He immediately suspects the reclusive, but obviously clever Dru Porter; he knows she is hiding something. As Dru’s past catches up with her, their instant, mutual dislike threatens to blind them to the true danger lurking in the mine, one which could leave them both at the mercy of the desert...