Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCamman’s new book has come a long way since starting out as an inside joke that they shared while working together.They will launch their new junior fiction book, The Marvellous Submarine, at The Kiama Pavilion on April 2 at 6.30pm.The pair first met while working at Clay’s former bookstore-café, Bouquiniste, on Terralong Street. Both dreamed of becoming writers and while working on their individual projects, they accidentally stumbled upon a collaborative venture.“We just started collaborating, almost as a joke, about this kids’ series we wanted to create,” Clay said. “Somewhere along the way, we thought, maybe this does have legs, so we decided to write it down and expand on it.”Conor recalls how they would be midway through work at the café, with one person tending to the business while the other wrote.“We were literally writing it during business hours. One person would be steaming milk and calling over their shoulder, Mr Brains should say this, while the other would be writing it down on the laptop. Or while one of us was sweeping or something. It all just happened in our heads, and we got it down as it came,” says Conor.The project reached new heights when they figured out Conor had a talent for drawing - after doodling on some of the store receipts.“Anytime something funny would happen in the shop, Conor would print out receipt paper and draw it like a comic. We had these comics posted everywhere, capturing little funny moments from the shop,” Clay said.“That’s when we realised how well Conor could draw. He started illustrating some of the book’s characters, so we ended up with all these little bits of receipt paper stuck up around the shop.”The Marvellous Submarine follows twin siblings who live on an island with their mother, a famous inventor. When their mother is kidnapped, the twins must embark on a submarine adventure with a crew of animals to rescue her. Along the way, they encounter pirates, a blue whale, exploding basketballs, and a host of other ridiculous hijinks.Collaborating on a book can come with its problems, but Clay and Conor both agree they were perfectly matched when it came to their collective vision for the book.“There were times when I’d come up with an idea, tell Conor about it, and he’d instantly know how to bring it to life,” says Clay. “He’d draw it, and I’d think, That’s perfect. That’s exactly what I had in mind.”This is Clay’s second book, following 100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze. After finishing The Marvellous Submarine, they handed it to his publisher and agent, and the rest, as they say, is history.“I had the ability to put the book in the right hands - both to my agent and my publisher - and we were surprised to see how much they enjoyed it,” Clay said. “To the point where I don’t even think they changed anything when we first handed the book in.”When asked what they enjoyed most about writing a children’s book, Clay and Conor mention the joy of reconnecting with their childlike imagination and creating moments that both kids and adults can enjoy.“After the release of my first book, I had the opportunity to visit schools and festivals, meeting other children’s and teen writers,” Clay said. “Especially when you’re workshopping with kids, their imagination is incredible. They’re not limited by anything, which as adults, I think we lose a little bit.”“We tried to make it fun for parents to read to their kids as well,” says Conor. “For example, the pirates in the book turn out to be investment bankers at a costume party on their mega yacht, and they get blown off course and they have to become real pirates just to survive.”The book will be released on launch day on April 2 and will be available for sale at the Kiama Pavilion, and you can grab a free ticket here.

Local historian Tony Gilmour’s new book, Rascals and Respectables, delves into the rich history of the hotels in Kiama, Jamberoo and Gerringong. Speaking with Bernie Hems on Kiama Community Radio, Tony described the book as a passion project that captures the social fabric of the area.He is celebrating the book’s release with two launch events on Saturday (22 March). From the earliest days, hotels were more than just drinking spots. With no council chambers, police stations, or community halls, they hosted everything from council meetings to sports club gatherings. Interestingly, early hotels were required to provide accommodation, with licensing laws stipulating a minimum number of bedrooms and even ceiling heights.The licensing of hotels was driven by revenue rather than regulation.“State governments couldn’t tax directly, so hotel licences became a lucrative income source,” Gilmour explained. In the 1850s, a surge of new venues led to a boom-and-bust cycle, with many closing within months.Kiama wasn’t always the dominant town. In the mid-19th century, Jamberoo was larger, and an even bigger settlement, Woodstock, has now vanished.“Woodstock was ahead of its time, with a brewery, timber yard, and over 50 dwellings,” Gilmour added. Poor leadership and an isolated location led to its decline, leaving no trace of its existence today.One of Kiama’s most curious tales is The Gold Diggers Arms, a hotel set up by Joseph Pike near Pike’s Hill. A councillor and entrepreneur, Pike nearly bankrupted Kiama Council with infrastructure projects that largely benefited his landholdings.The hotel’s name played into a hoax about gold in the area, briefly fooling residents into believing a rush was imminent.With the mining boom of the 1870s and the railway’s arrival, Kiama’s population surged. This led to the era of ornate hotels, including The Grand, Tory’s, the Brighton, and the Royal.The Royal, once the premier stay for visiting dignitaries, was destroyed in the great fire of 1899, which devastated half of Kiama’s town centre. Tory’s Hotel narrowly escaped the flames.In true Kiama fashion, locals salvaged what they could from the burning Royal hotel, mainly the liquor, and held an impromptu party.“It wasn’t all bad news,” Gilmour laughed.Saturday’s first book launch event is a formal affair at Kiama Library at 2pm with Gareth Ward, which will feature tea and cake.The event will then relocate upstairs at Tory’s Hotel for a more relaxed gathering at 5pm with drinks and lively anecdotes. The book is available at both launches, or from Pilot’s Cottage Museum and local stockists, with all proceeds supporting the Kiama Historical Society.Rascals and Respectables is a lively tribute to our local hotels and the characters who shaped them.

Local historian Tony Gilmour’s new book, Rascals and Respectables, delves into the rich history of the hotels in Kiama, Jamberoo and Gerringong. Speaking with Bernie Hems on Kiama Community Radio, Tony described the book as a passion project that captures the social fabric of the area.He is celebrating the book’s release with two launch events on Saturday (22 March). From the earliest days, hotels were more than just drinking spots. With no council chambers, police stations, or community halls, they hosted everything from council meetings to sports club gatherings. Interestingly, early hotels were required to provide accommodation, with licensing laws stipulating a minimum number of bedrooms and even ceiling heights.The licensing of hotels was driven by revenue rather than regulation.“State governments couldn’t tax directly, so hotel licences became a lucrative income source,” Gilmour explained. In the 1850s, a surge of new venues led to a boom-and-bust cycle, with many closing within months.Kiama wasn’t always the dominant town. In the mid-19th century, Jamberoo was larger, and an even bigger settlement, Woodstock, has now vanished.“Woodstock was ahead of its time, with a brewery, timber yard, and over 50 dwellings,” Gilmour added. Poor leadership and an isolated location led to its decline, leaving no trace of its existence today.One of Kiama’s most curious tales is The Gold Diggers Arms, a hotel set up by Joseph Pike near Pike’s Hill. A councillor and entrepreneur, Pike nearly bankrupted Kiama Council with infrastructure projects that largely benefited his landholdings.The hotel’s name played into a hoax about gold in the area, briefly fooling residents into believing a rush was imminent.With the mining boom of the 1870s and the railway’s arrival, Kiama’s population surged. This led to the era of ornate hotels, including The Grand, Tory’s, the Brighton, and the Royal.The Royal, once the premier stay for visiting dignitaries, was destroyed in the great fire of 1899, which devastated half of Kiama’s town centre. Tory’s Hotel narrowly escaped the flames.In true Kiama fashion, locals salvaged what they could from the burning Royal hotel, mainly the liquor, and held an impromptu party.“It wasn’t all bad news,” Gilmour laughed.Saturday’s first book launch event is a formal affair at Kiama Library at 2pm with Gareth Ward, which will feature tea and cake.The event will then relocate upstairs at Tory’s Hotel for a more relaxed gathering at 5pm with drinks and lively anecdotes. The book is available at both launches, or from Pilot’s Cottage Museum and local stockists, with all proceeds supporting the Kiama Historical Society.Rascals and Respectables is a lively tribute to our local hotels and the characters who shaped them.

From real-life investigations to heart-racing thrillers, many people find crime stories captivating. At Manly Writers’ Festival, we’re bringing together the best in true crime and crime fiction—stories ripped from the headlines and those crafted from imagination. Join award-winning journalists and investigators who have uncovered shocking truths in cases that have gripped the Northern Beaches and the nation. Then, step into the world of crime fiction, where authors and journalists steeped in the politics of mysterious ways take us deep into the minds of detectives, good guys, bad guys, and the morally grey spaces in between. Whether you’re drawn to the chilling reality of true crime or the adrenaline rush of a perfectly plotted mystery thriller, these sessions will leave you curious about the motivations of the criminals, concerns about justice and the legal system, and the thrill of solving a real-life whodunnit. Manly Writers' Festival. A stage for big ideas. A place for real conversations.True crime sessions will cover some of Australia's most notorious cases, including the wrongful conviction of Kathleen Folbigg and dramatic tales of escape and justice. For crime fiction fans, Blanche d'Alpuget launches The Bunny Club (28 March) while Tim Ayliffe and Michael Brissenden delve into politics and crime. Plus rising stars Hayley Scrivenor (a wollongong local) and Patricia Wolf explore Australia's landscape as a backdrop for mystery.Don't miss this deep dive into crime, justice and storytelling. For more information visit the website here.

Synopsis: It remains surprising that the ultra-woke extremist ideology which is synonymous with the Family Court of Australia evolved in the Land Down Under. For Australia, founded as a penal colony, has always been associated with anti-establishment sentiment.In the early 1900s one of the country’s most beloved poets, Henry Lawson, wrote: The clever scoundrels are all outside, and the moneyless mugs in gaol –Men do twelve months for a mad wife’s lies or Life for a strumpet’s tale.If the people knew what the warders know, and felt as the prisoners feel –If the people knew, they would storm their gaols as they stormed the old Bastille.Henry Lawson, One Hundred and Three, 1908.The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Family Law Act, the single most impactful and destructive piece of legislation to ever pass the Australian parliament.In that time the Family Court has been the subject of dozens of government inquiries and attempts at reform on its road to becoming the single most hated jurisdiction in the country.Far from the helping court its founders told the public they imagined, it has become an enduring symbol of good intentions gone wrong, of the initial idealism of the left turning into a totalitarian nightmare visited upon millions of Australian families, and an enduring example of ideological extremism, political opportunism and bureaucratic refusal to take seriously the voices of those they are meant to serve. Looked at across a broader reach, an aerial view so to speak, ultimately the history of the Family Law Act demonstrates how an ideology allowed to flourish in one sacrosanct arena has metastasised across institutions to damage an entire society. We all think we begin this journey alone. Well, I most certainly did. Like a lot of people who assume that the Australian Family Court and Australian Child Support Agency are credible, reliable and ethical institutions. Good luck with that. Once you encounter these institutions, and the phalanxes of bureaucracies and politicians which protect them, prepare to have your illusions dashed.No one can go through the expensive rigmarole of a Family Court trial and emerge with the slightest respect for the lawyers who profit from this foul system, or the politicians who have allowed this travesty of public administration to spread its poison down the generations. The Child Support Agency is one of the primary drivers of unemployment in Australia. Like many other fathers who find working while paying what they rightly perceive as draconian levels of child support pointless, “Matt” eventually gave up the job he loved and instead went to university. He has since graduated and is now a barrister. Thanks to our family law and child support systems, there are a number of dads who have either gone back to tertiary education or pursued other dreams, such as to become an artist. Or who took the other path and are eking out their lives on welfare rather than spend them in servitude to what they see as the systemʼs rapacious financial demands. They might have felt differently if they thought their money was genuinely benefiting their children, but the law does not require any demonstration that this is the case. Indeed later research showed that children were financially better off and received more money from their separated fathers before the creation of the woeful Child Support Agency. The expensive scheme also failed in its objective of saving the taxpayer money, with cost estimates running between two and five times that of every dollar collected, depending on the year. But nothing stopped this stain on the Australian Public Service impacting and damaging millions of people’s lives, fathers, mothers and the children it pretended to benefit.With the spread of communication technology, the Family Court’s arbitrary and frequently cruel judgements were already the stuff of legends by the time we began broadcasting. One Indian immigrant was jailed for writing to his parents in English. The Court ignored his protestations that his father had two masters’ degrees in English. The Court has also ordered litigants not to contact the United Nations with their concerns, not to publicise the injustices of their cases in any way and not to take their children to a doctor or raise welfare concerns.One father was ordered not to contact his children after he allegedly carried his daughter around on his shoulders, in a crowded park. Another father who expressed a desire to see his adolescent son after the boy’s suicide attempt was ridiculed from the bench while the lawyers sniggered. Yet another was jailed for sending his child a birthday card.Similar stories of damaged lives circle the Child Support Agency. The Agency claimed to be treating fairly a young father who was losing 80 percent of his income in tax and child support and died with one of their letters in his hand. Another man took more than two weeks to die when he went out to his back shed and swallowed poison following a call from a CSA officer. The CSA refused to attend the inquest despite a request from the Magistrate.We shared much in common, that first small group, most of all disgust at the rampant anti-father bias and to our minds outright corruption in Australiaʼs family law system. We were similarly distressed at what had been so blithely done to our children, and the children of so many others, the attempted destruction of their relationship with their dads.The pillaging of separated families is a multi-billion dollar industry. Few parents give up without a fight. They do not accept the loss of any meaningful relationship with their children. They do not shrug and say: sure, leach me for every cent you possibly can. Take my kids, take my property. In the process of fighting for fair reason these same parents are almost always financially fleeced by lawyers and personally crushed, the devastation wreaked upon them taking years to recover from, if they recover at all.During those dark days, which have now returned in force, indeed are worse than ever, more than half the fathers entering the Family Court of Australia emerged to find they saw their children barely once or twice a year. All too many never saw their children again. Those who did usually got the so-called daddy pack of contact every second weekend, although there is no evidence such an arrangement is in the best interests of children. None whatsoever, despite all the false claims by Family Court apologists that their sole working rationale is “the best interests of the child”.Watch a snippet from John Stapleton's interview with Bettina Arndt here.Australian Whistleblower Police: Reluctant Enforcers for Feminist Domestic Violence Regime by Bettina Arndt.** Review by Spectator Australia Failure Family Law Reform Australia by John Stapleton will be published on 15 February, 2025.Recommended Retail Price: $59.99.

Move over helicopter parents - there’s a new parenting trend in town. Bestselling author and journalist Amy Molloy is set to spark debate with her latest book, Wise Child, launching onMarch 25. In this ground-breaking book, Molloy delves into the concept of ‘past life parenting,’ the idea that children may carry memories, experiences, and wisdom fromprevious incarnations. (The anecdotes in the book are jaw dropping!)Molloy, known for her candid approach to unconventional topics, was inspired to write the book after her own struggles parenting a ‘sensitive soul.’ A past life regression session changed her perspective on motherhood, leading her to research similar experiences worldwide.In Wise Child, she examines the work of Dr. Jim Tucker at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies, which investigates children who claim to recall past lives.The book blends personal anecdotes with scientific research, spiritual perspectives, and practical parenting advice. It raises thought-provoking questions: Could a child’s unexplained fears stem from past life trauma? How do past life imprints shape our children’s personalities, passions, and even their phobias? How much autonomy should parents give children who appear wiser than their years?With chapters covering ‘new age neurodivergence,’ intuition-led parenting, and the link between past lives, gender, and sexuality, Wise Child is sure to intrigue open-minded parents and challenge sceptics alike. The book has already garnered praise from educators, parents and spiritual leaders, with many calling it a ‘paradigm-shifting’ guide for modern families.Molloy, a mother of three, hopes the book will empower parents to see their children in a new light, fostering deeper understanding and connection. Wise Child will be on sale globallyfrom March 25, also available at The Bookshop Kiama.

Rock and roll legend Carl Perkins had just written the hit song Blue Suede Shoes, his career was building momentum and he was set to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show in front of the entire country - before even Elvis had done so. Unfortunately, he never made it.“En route to New York, Carl and his band had this terrible car crash and Carl ended up in hospital for weeks and weeks - broken and bruised. His brother, who was in the band, almost died. Someone in another car actually did die in the accident,” says Jeff Apter, the author of Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly. “So, he never made it to the show and as he was lying in his hospital bed - he turned on the TV and there's Elvis on national TV. Seizing his moment.”Jeff explains that this was just one of many "sliding doors" moments in Carl Perkins’ career. And that although he went on to have a successful career in his own right, Perkins will likely forever live in the shadow of the man who appeared on his TV screen while he lay battered and bruised in that hospital bed.Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly is the new music biography written by Jeff Apter, a Wollongong local, who is launching the book on Saturday 8 March, 2pm at the Kiama Library Auditorium as part of the Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival.Jeff Apter's new book. Photos supplied.Jeff has written more than 30 books about music and musicians. He also spent four years working for Australian Rolling Stone. Interestingly, it was a biography about Australian star Keith Urban that led to this new book project.“I'd written a book about Keith a few years ago for an Australian publisher. It was picked up by a US publisher, Kensington books, in New York. They really loved it and they actually said to me - you're a music biographer, what do you know about Carl Perkins? We want to write a book on him,” says Jeff.“I knew where he came from, his involvement with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Sun Records, Blue Suede Shoes and his relationship with The Beatles and I thought - someone's willing to pay me to find out more about someone who fascinates me. So it was a fantastic 12 month journey of research and writing. Every day I learnt something new about this really interesting, somewhat shadowy figure in American popular culture.”In the 90’s Jeff was fortunate to spend four years living in the U.S. and visiting a lot of the places that Perkins would have been recording, performing and living - and he says that this experience helped him capture the time and place of the book.“I really tried to vividly present how it felt to be in the moment, at that place and time. It was almost incidental that I'd done some research and legwork for this book 20 years ago just by being in America and getting a feel for it,” Jeff says.“While I hadn’t been to Jackson, where Perkins spent most of his life, I had been to Memphis, Nashville, and Austin, Texas - all key music cities. I’d also visited Sun Studios where Carl recorded. So, I already had a feel for that world, which really helped.”But beyond capturing the essence of Perkins’ life, Jeff is particularly interested in understanding how someone in the spotlight manages to stay sane (or goes insane,) and in examining the evolution of the specific song or album that defines that artist for a lifetime.“I guess I'm fascinated - especially in the case of Carl Perkins - about how you can stay relatively sane when you are in the spotlight every night. How do you deal with that? How do you adapt? In Carl’s case - he would go on these great tours, play to thousands of people and he’d come home, slip off the toupee, pull out the dental plate, put on his baseball cap and ride on his lawnmower around the front yard,” says Jeff.“And also I'm really interested in evolution. The song that becomes the song that is the soundtrack of your life. How does it come into existence? What inspired it? Not technically, I'm not really interested in saying this chord followed by that chord and that note. I am interested in motivation and inspiration.”With Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly, Jeff hopes to bring Perkins out from the shadows of figures like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison, even if only by an inch.Catch Jeff at the Kiama Library Auditorium on 8 March at 2pm - more information available here.

Kiama Council is inviting the community to have Your Say on the future of local library services with the release of the draft Kiama Library Strategic Plan 2025-2029.Manager of Library and Cultural Hubs, Michelle Hudson, said the Kiama and Gerringong library branches provide a highly respected and vibrant service, complemented by a strong online presence.“Our libraries are at the heart of our community – safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces where people can come together to learn and share creativity through our programs and events,” Ms Hudson said.“Our dedicated and creative library staff are passionate about the essential services we provide, from fostering reading and increasing digital literacy to preserving our cultural history and strengthening social connections.”The Kiama Library Strategic Plan 2025-2029 outlines key recommendations to adapt and enhance library services as the community evolves. These include:Exploring potential layout improvements at Kiama Library to create a more flexible and dynamic space.Activating outdoor spaces at both Kiama and Gerringong libraries.Investigating alternative service models to better connect with satellite communities.Integrating the Local Studies Collection and Kiama Family History Centre into a single collection and service point.“Bringing together the Local Studies Collection and Family History Centre will create a stronger narrative around our local history, incorporating personal stories and genealogical records to deepen our community’s understanding of its identity,” Ms Hudson said.The draft plan has been developed through consultation with library members, staff, and the wider community, drawing on feedback from surveys, program evaluations, and workshops.Residents are encouraged to review the draft Kiama Library Strategic Plan 2025-2029 and share their feedback by Sunday, 23 March at yoursay.kiama.nsw.gov.au/library-strategic-plan.

On Wednesday, 12 February, Jervis Bay writer Kell Woods, author of the Sunday Times bestseller After the Forest, will launch her new novel Upon a Starlit Tide in Huskisson.Kell’s debut novel, After the Forest, was a gritty reimagining of Hansel and Gretel set in Germany's Black Forest in 1650. Now, with her highly anticipated follow-up she transports readers to a new historical setting and reimagines not one, but two classic fairytales.Upon a Starlit Tide weaves together the tales of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, set in Saint-Malo, Brittany, in 1758.The story follows Lucinde "Luce" Leon, the youngest daughter of one of Saint-Malo’s wealthiest shipowners. While Luce dreams of escaping her privileged yet stifling life to join a ship’s crew, her plans are derailed when she rescues a near-drowned man from the sea.Kell was offered a two-book deal with US publishers TOR Books who released her debut in 2023. She was then given 18 months to write her follow-up."Writing went from being my weird little hobby that no one cared about to suddenly being my job. It was incredibly exciting and wonderful, but at the same time, it was terrifying and filled with self-doubt," says Kell. "I thought, They’re going to realise they've chosen the wrong person. I had to work through all the impostor syndrome and second-book anxiety. It was just a matter of putting your bum on the seat and chipping away at it until something came."The first piece of the Upon a Starlit Tide was found when Kell felt drawn to reimagining The Little Mermaid. But as she delved deeper into the story, she realised it needed something else to balance the original tale’s dark themes - and that’s when she found the next piece."The Little Mermaid is a really dark, sad story," says Kell. "She dies in the end, turns into foam, the Prince chooses someone else, and her tongue is cut out - it’s grim. I realised I wanted to weave in another story with more lightness and beauty, so I chose Cinderella."It was this fusion of fairytales that ultimately shaped the novel. In finding Cinderella, Kell also discovered the setting for her story - Saint-Malo, a city with a rich history and a backdrop of both opulence and darkness."Because I was doing Cinderella, I thought, I could set this in France. From there, I began researching the French coastline and different historical periods, eventually settling on Saint-Malo," says Kell.Saint-Malo, a walled city on the English Channel, is both beautiful and steeped in maritime history. The 18th century, when the novel is set, was also an era of decadent masked balls for the French aristocracy - making it an ideal setting for two contrasting fairytales to coexist.Through the intersection of fantasy and historical reality, Kell aims to immerse readers in a world where the fantastical feels just as real as the tangible."I do as much research as a historical fiction writer would," says Kell. "I want readers to feel like the place is real, that everything makes sense, and that it feels familiar. From there, I launch into magic, witchcraft, mermaids, and other fantastical elements."Kell believes that blending these elements with historical reality is important because, in those times, people genuinely believed in mythical creatures and folklore."People back then actually believed in this stuff, and that’s probably the main reason I’m drawn to it," says Kell. "They believed it was real, so I can dig into their beliefs and make it feel as authentic to readers as it did to them."Saint-Malo’s folklore is rich with tales of fairies living in rocks and caves, as well as stories of mermaids and magic - elements that greatly influenced Kell’s storytelling.Upon a Starlit Tide will be released by HarperCollins Australia on Wednesday, 12 February. Kell will be celebrating the launch with friends, family, and book lovers at back-to-back events at BooBook on Owen and Jervis Bay Coffee in Huskisson.After that she will be having a book tour, and all dates and locations can be found on her website: https://www.kellwoods.com.au/news.

Jamberoo 7s brought plenty of fast footy action this weekend, but just outside Fredericks IGA, another type of competition was on display: a battle between justice and power, told through the pages of a new Australian novel. Solicitor-turned-author Gary Davis was selling copies of Tom Mortimer Pitt Street Bankers, his debut book that delves into the financial dealings that shaped - and in many cases, shattered - lives across Australia.Davis, a solicitor with first hand experience of the foreign currency loan debacle of the 1980s and 1990s, has crafted a gripping narrative that blends real world insights with fiction. Tom Mortimer Pitt Street Bankers begins on a dairy farm in 1959 before shifting to Sydney’s elite banking world, culminating in a courtroom battle in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1987. The novel examines how financial power brokers influenced the lives of everyday Australians, particularly farmers and small business owners who found themselves at the mercy of complex financial products they did not fully understand. Speaking at Jamberoo, Davis shared that his motivation for writing the book stemmed from witnessing the tactics banks used against clients who had taken out foreign currency loans, often without fully grasping the risks involved. “It was eye opening,” he said. “I saw how hard working Australians were left in financial ruin, and I knew it was a story that needed to be told.”Davis and his wife are currently travelling around Australia to promote the book, sharing its message with communities far and wide. The book, released on March 23, 2024, is already drawing attention from readers interested in legal dramas, financial intrigue, and Australian history. I picked up my copy at 11 am, and by 2 pm, Gary had sold most of his books - a clear sign that readers are eager to get their hands on this compelling tale.Davis hopes that Tom Mortimer Pitt Street Bankers will not only entertain but also educate readers about the banking practices that shaped a tumultuous period in Australian finance.You can purchase a copy from the Bowral and Kiama Bookshops. For more information visit garydavis.com.au. Whether you are a fan of legal thrillers or keen to understand the financial history that shaped Australia’s small business and farming communities, Davis’s novel offers a compelling read.

The Kiama Library is more than just a repository of books; it is a hub for promoting literacy and fostering a lifelong love of reading across all age groups. Under the leadership of Michelle Hudson, Manager of Kiama Library and Cultural Hubs, the library’s diverse range of programs and resources ensures that everyone, from toddlers to seniors, has access to the tools they need to explore and enjoy reading.“We strive to make reading accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” said Michelle. “From board books for babies to audiobooks and graphic novels for reluctant readers, we provide resources that cater to all interests and abilities.”One of the library’s standout offerings is its collection of audiobooks, which Michelle highlights as a fantastic resource for families. “Audiobooks are great for road trips and can expose listeners to richer vocabulary and complex ideas,” she said. “They’re also a wonderful way to engage reluctant readers.”Graphic novels are another innovative tool in the library’s arsenal. Blending visual storytelling with text, these books captivate readers who might otherwise shy away from traditional formats. “Graphic novels help develop skills like interpreting images and context clues, making them an excellent gateway to reading,” Michelle added.The library also embraces digital technology, offering eBooks and eMagazines that members can access from anywhere. This flexibility is particularly valuable for families on the go, allowing them to carry entire libraries on their devices.The library’s commitment to literacy begins at the earliest stages of life. Every new parent in the Kiama area is visited by the Early Childhood nurse, who gift a complimentary library bag containing a board book and information about the library’s programs. “It’s a way to introduce families to the joy of books and start building literacy skills from day one,” said Michelle.Storytime sessions are another cornerstone of the library’s early literacy efforts. Designed to introduce young children to the joy of books, language, and rhyme, these sessions include stories, songs, and crafts. They are free and held during school terms at both the Kiama and Gerringong branches.The library offers three distinct storytime programs tailored to different age groups:Baby Storytime: Perfect for newborns, this session encourages parents and babies to connect through stories and rhymes.Toddler Tales: For the more mobile toddlers, this session incorporates action songs and activities.Preschool Storytime: Preparing children for school, this longer session includes crafts and multiple stories to engage their growing attention spans.“These sessions are not only beneficial for the children but also serve as great networking opportunities for new parents. Michelle noted. “Many lifelong friendships have been formed through these programs.”The library’s school holiday activities, like the Lego building competitions and simultaneous storytime events, keep older children engaged while fostering creativity and a love of learning.The Summer Reading Challenge exemplifies the library’s dedication to literacy. Running from 20 December 2024 to 31 January 2025, this program invites children aged 5 to 12 to read 10 books over the summer break. Participants can track their progress on a 10 Book Goal sheet, with completed sheets earning them a lucky dip prize and entry into a draw for a Kiama Bookshop voucher.“We designed this challenge to be flexible and fun,” Michelle explained. “It encourages kids to explore a wide variety of reading materials, from magazines to graphic novels, and even audiobooks.”With over 50% of Kiama’s population as members, the library’s impact on the community is significant. “We’re more than just books; we’re a space for learning, connection, and exploration,” Michelle said. “Our programs and resources reflect the diverse needs of our community, and we’re proud to play such an important role in their lives.”To explore the library’s services, visit Kiama or Gerringong Library, or browse the library’s website for more information on its programs and resources.

Gerringong author Lisa Darcy’s latest book Christmas Actually is the perfect stocking filler for avid readers. Following on from the theme of its famous namesake Love Actually, and in keeping with the yuletide spirit, Christmas Actually is ultimately about humanity: putting others first and showing kindness, says Lisa.“My publisher wanted my new novel to have a festive theme, specifically set in Australia – sun, surf, sunburn and prawns,” she says.“Christmas Actually is a snapshot of modern family life; addressing Instagram to motherhood, and everything in between. A common thread throughout my novels is women finding the strength to move forward when faced with challenging circumstances.“These characters deal with real-life circumstances such as divorce, betrayal, heartache, and addiction, with behaviours that are unpredictable, messy, flawed, and generally lead to more chaos with a sprinkling of humour.”You can pick up a signed copy of Lisa’s latest novel at her author talk at Gerringong Library.Lisa will join children’s book author Alison Tait for a conversation on December 6, from 5-6pm. The event is free, but bookings are essential. Christmas nibbles will be provided and books from both authors will be available for signing and purchase. For more information visit Kiama Library’s website. With Christmas just around the corner, Lisa Darcy shares her favourite holiday reads with The Bugle.A book Lisa couldn’t put down:Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) by best-selling Wiradyuri author, Dr Anita Heiss, is an outstanding Australian historical novel - truth-telling through fiction, a story of love and resilience in a time of war. In Anita’s acknowledgements, she writes “Dirrayawadha is probably the most important book I will ever write.” I believe her. This is definitely a story that needs to be told. Dirrayawadha should be on the curriculum list of every high school in Australia.A book readers can get lost in at the beach? Richard Osman’s frolic, We Solve Murders. His novels are funny, easy to read, and his characters are always well-rounded. His entertaining murder mysteries are easily read on a lazy day at the beach.A book that left an impression on Lisa? Watermelon by Marian Keyes. I think she is brilliant. Keye’s is funny and incredibly talented, and I admire her enormously. Her writing always seems so effortless even when her characters are dealing with serious issues like alcoholism, divorce and disease. I get in the heads of the characters that inspire me - the heroine triumphing over adversity - and am with them on their journey all the way. A book that challenged Lisa’s perspective on a topic? I was never a fan of fantasy or sci-fi. But when my boys were pre-tweens, they were into Harry Potter, then when my daughter was a teenager, she loved the Twilight series. I read these books because my kids did. It opened my eyes to many more genres. A book Lisa hopes to find under her Christmas tree? Something that surprises me. Last Christmas, my daughter and my partner both gave me Paul Barbera’s Book, House Cat. This year, I hope they chat before gifting me a book, but give me something equally as wonderful as House Cat.Why should book lovers put Christmas Actually on their wish list? Christmas Actually is a universal story about rebirth, love and redemption, packaged in fresh wrapping. Familial expectations don’t fade into the background just because Christmas is looming. All of Kate’s family – her parents, husband, sister, children, and friends – demand something from her, whether that be love, time, acceptance, food, or silence. Kate’s at breaking point, and something’s got to give. She can’t even find the time to haul the Christmas decorations out from the garage. And there’s no Christmas tree. This book reminds us that despite our imperfections, it is never too late to admit our past mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Love, in all its incarnations, need not be out of reach.Competition time: Email us at hello@the buglenewspaper.com.au for a chance to win a signed copy of Christmas Actually. The winner’s name will be drawn out of a Santa hat.

It is mid-morning, early spring. The Sun’s gentle warmth caresses my skin as I settle into a quiet, shady spot on a bench. From my bag, I take out my watercolour pad, pencils, jar of water, and brush, arranging them beside me. Sketching and painting here has become a cherished routine since I discovered The Garden: a tranquil oasis of native flora hidden behind the bustle of shops and offices in a busy urban suburb. This 3.3-hectare haven, transformed from an old sandstone quarry over fifty years ago, now flourishes under the care of dedicated volunteers. I am proud to count myself among them.I love all native flora—the eucalypts, acacias, grevilleas, the delicate flannel flowers, and the many varieties of ferns. But my favourite is the Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis), a hardy, graceful tree that explodes with vibrant red brush-like flowers in spring, attracting birds from far and wide. One stands before me now, and today it will be the centrepiece of my artistic endeavour. If I’m pleased with the result, I plan to frame the painting and create greeting cards from it.I begin by roughing out the composition in pencil, experimenting with layouts for aesthetic appeal. Gradually, I sketch the slender light-green leaves with watercolour pencils, layering greens for a realistic effect. Once I add the crimson brush flowers, I’ll use water to bring the scene to life. Today, however, my pace quickens—there’s an urgent matter to discuss with a fellow volunteer, who is meeting me here soon.“Hey, that’s already looking good,” a familiar voice calls from behind. My colleague appears, holding a thermos. “I brought us some coffee,” she adds, pouring two cups and handing me one.Our casual meeting masks the importance of our conversation. We need to strategise against a proposed multi-story residential development before the Council—one that could block most of the sunlight from The Garden. While increasing urban density addresses housing shortages, it threatens sanctuaries like ours. This isn’t just about preserving greenery; it’s about protecting the wildlife that depends on these spaces and maintaining a balance in urban ecosystems.“The demonstration outside the Council Chambers the other day was a success,” she begins. “The local paper gave it excellent coverage, and it drew some much-needed attention. Our submission and petition are now with the Council, but we need to do more. It’s shocking how many locals don’t even know The Garden exists.”“What if we host an Open Day?” I suggest, after mulling it over. “Invite the Councillors and other local dignitaries, make it a community event. I could curate an exhibition of my sketches and paintings to auction off, raising funds to support our campaign.”Her eyes light up. “That’s a fantastic idea! I’ll call an urgent meeting for Saturday so we can get started.” She springs up and heads for the car park. “See you then!”“See you,” I call after her.Looking back at my painting-in-progress, I feel a renewed sense of purpose. Finishing this watercolour isn’t just about artistic fulfillment anymore—it’s about contributing to a cause close to my heart.

By Carol GoddardThe year was 1916. Eighteen-year-old John Henry, a boy from Mascot, enlisted in the Australian Army to fight a war half a world away.Young and idealistic, he was soon sent for training to learn the basics of trench warfare and signalling. Deployed from Sydney to Kiama, he and thousands of other young men settled into a makeshift tent city on the Kiama Showgrounds. John trained in signalling on the headland overlooking Kendalls Beach and practised digging trenches on the sands of Bombo Beach before being shipped out to Beersheba to join the Light Horse Brigade.The harsh conditions of the Middle East took a toll on John; within three months, malaria had found him, and he spent much of the First World War in and out of care. He was lucky—he survived. Although he suffered occasional bouts of malaria for the rest of his life, he returned home, met a girl, and raised a family.Fast-forward to the late 1950s and early 1960s. Each summer, John Henry’s son-in-law, Norm, packed up his wife and two young kids for a camping holiday in Kiama. Living just two hours north, Norm would load up his Dodge truck with a double bed, bunks for the kids, a large icebox, a metho stove, a kerosene lamp, and a centre-pole tent. He even brought his toolbox, for Norm was a hardworking carpenter, picking up jobs whenever and wherever he could.Money was often tight, and though he occasionally placed a bet on the horses, whether he won or lost didn’t change his commitment to the annual trip to Kiama. Each year, they camped on the headland overlooking the round Rockpool, under the shade of pine trees. Today, this spot is home to rental cabins, the Kiama Visitor Centre, and Diggies café. But back then, it was a bustling camping ground filled with tents, plywood caravans, and families enjoying the simple pleasures of life by the sea.Norm set up their three-room tent, and for the next few weeks, while his wife and children enjoyed Kiama's beaches, the Rockpool, bike rides, and the joys of camping, Norm took off with his carpenter’s toolbox to find work in town. If there was money left after camping fees, he could take a day off to enjoy the beach with his family—those were the good days.Another leap through time brings us to the 1980s. Norm’s little boy, Gary—John Henry’s grandson—had grown up, met, and married me. By then, we had two of our four children, and on occasional weekends, we would drive from Sydney down to Kiama and Gerringong, just for the pleasure of seeing the lush green hills rolling to the sea. Each time, we’d return home wishing we could live in this beautiful place. But the universe had other plans, and it would take another forty years before we finally became locals in Kiama—arguably the most wonderful place in the world.For over a hundred years, our family’s connection to Kiama has endured, from John Henry’s time to the present day. Gary found our home, and in May 2021, we moved in, ready to live the Kiama life to the fullest. If John Henry were here today, he’d heartily approve.

Books, music, coffee and conversation. The local Bouquiniste cafe/bookstore has become synonymous with these elements since its inception in 2017. However, after seven successful years, owner Clay Comber has decided it is the right time to hang up the books.Comber, an author who released his debut novel, 100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze, in 2021, plans to use his newfound free time to delve deeper into his literary pursuits.“I think it’s just time for me not to have to be at the same place at the same time every day - the reason we went into this in the beginning was for the books and the writing. And that has to take the primary concern for me rather than being in store all the time,” says Comber.Clay and then-partner Hannah Lynch opened Bouquiniste in 2017 with the dream to create a space that combined their three favourite things: books, music and coffee.“We talked about it all the time because we loved books, music, coffee and she was studying publishing and I was studying writing. So, when the time came, we thought - why don’t we make the hypothetical store the real store,” says Comber.Ironically, the location they chose—Shop 1 of Kiama Centrepoint—was the same spot where his parents previously ran their optometrist business before relocating just down the hall.“This store was actually the workshop of my family’s optometrist practice a long time ago; my dad would have been one of the first ones in this arcade. I grew up literally on this floor,” he says.The combination of books and coffee created a magical atmosphere, inspiring conversation and community engagement—something Comber aimed to cultivate from the start.“You find a lot of people saying that they came here particularly for coffee just to be around the books. People who aren’t huge readers and might not be the kind of person that go into a regular bookstore; because they’re here for coffee in the morning, books are there and they can grab them. Then everyday when they come in we can talk about how it’s going and it’s always good hearing from those customers,” says Comber.Whenever you walked into Bouquiniste, you’d often find Clay deep in conversation with a customer and that is something he will miss the most - the regulars that would come in and that he’d seen grow over the seven years of his business. “We never wanted people to feel alienated when you walked in. We wanted people to feel like they were part of a conversation, obviously people could come in and read a book or read on their own, but if you came in and we didn’t know you we loved if you just jumped in - we wanted it to feel that way more than your generic cafe,” says Comber.Bouquiniste also hosted numerous book launches and events, including the launch of Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe, now a popular Netflix series. Comber intends to continue organising such events under the Bouquiniste brand, even after the store closes.Comber also has two books slated for release in 2025 by HarperCollins and he is hoping to finish another novel by the end of the year. He also DJ’s and you may catch him at a couple of events around Kiama in the future.Bouquiniste’s closure comes shortly after Comber’s family optometrist closed its doors on June 29 this year, ending a legacy that began in 1977. The store is still open for the next couple of weeks - so get in your final dose of coffee, books, music and conversation.The Bugle extends its gratitude to Clay and the Comber family for their contributions to Kiama and wishes them all the best in their future endeavours!

Send entries into [email protected] author Kirsten Nixon, a registered nurse by trade, always dreamed of being a writer. So in 2021 she decided to “bite the bullet” and forge a career in the book business.“All my life I’d really wanted to write a book, or have something to do with books. So I started talking to friends and family who had their own small businesses to find out how you would go about being an author.“They started telling me really important and inspiring stories about how they set up their businesses and I knew I needed to capture them, shine a spotlight on these women, and get their stories out into the world.” These stories became Kirsten's debut book, Voices of Entrepreneurial Women: Inspiring Stories of Small Business Owners and features 17 women mostly from the local community who transformed their dreams into thriving small businesses.“The book highlights the resilience, creativity, and determination of women entrepreneurs who have overcome many obstacles to succeed in their ventures,” says Kirsten.“Their stories inspired me to write a book, even though I was completely clueless about how to go about it. So I wanted to make sure the book included practical advice for anyone looking to start or grow their own business.”The book has tips, heartfelt advice and relatable stories of women who work in manufacturing, retail, wellness, hospitality, and artistic/creative spaces. Women who feature in the book come from a diverse range of businesses, including Kerry Fahey of Kerry’s Klothes, Sue Clelland from Saltwood Café & Lifestyle, Olivia Deroche from Wax Lyrical bookshop, Jo Quirk from Revive with Jo beauty, Lillie Nixon from Nixon's Cleaning and Maintenance, Emily Simpson from Full Bloom and Dianne McNamara from Punkin Head Air Sports, which makes aircraft covers for light planes. Artists Arabella Gypsy, Nicole Brown and Deborah Dicembre also feature in the book along with website designer Michelle Barraclough, Robyn McKean from Myotherapy, Balance your Body, Peta Godfrey from Travel Focus Group, Alyse and Alison Mitchinson from Arlo’s Garden, Lucy Nixon from Shoalhaven Professional Bookkeeping and porcelain doll maker Di Godfrey.“The women I spoke to are amazingly resilient,” says Kirsten. “When you think of what they’ve gone through with floods, fires and COVID it’s been a really tough time for them, but they hang in there and continue to inspire those around them.“I found out when I was writing this book that it really does take a village and the women who feature in it are so supportive and encouraging of each other as a community of small business owners.”When asked if she has achieved her dream she laughs and says: “Yes! That’s the crazy part about it, after interviewing all these women I’ve come full circle. I’ve got a book that I’m very happy with and I've also started my own small business.”Since publishing Voices of Entrepreneurial Women: Inspiring Stories of Small Business Owners Kirsten now runs her own writing business, Broughton Creek Publishing. She says writing her debut novel has enriched her life and she wants other women to be inspired to follow their dreams. “I hope this book serves as a beacon of hope and a source of practical wisdom for all women who aspire to make their mark in the business world,” she says. “The beauty of this book is that it has top tips from each of the businesswomen, along with themes that run central to all of their stories: love what you do; have the courage to have and go;persevere when things are hard and value and educate yourself.”The Bugle has a copy of Kirsten’s book to give away to one lucky reader. We are inviting people to nominate an inspiring woman in your life who you think deserves a copy of Voices of Entrepreneurial Women: Inspiring Stories of Small Business Owners - email your nomination to [email protected] to go in the draw to win a copy of Voices of Entrepreneurial Women.Copies are also available from https://kirstennixon.com/ and Amazon https://amzn.asia/d/iHOa4dj  

When South Coast teacher Leisa McMahon decided to write a children’s picture book, she began looking for an illustrator to bring her ideas to life.Leisa, a primary school educator and avid reader, has seen first-hand the positive impact a love of literacy can have on young lives.So, in 2020, she took the plunge and put pen to paper, writing the first draft of My Favourite Things, a picture book based on cherished childhood memories that brought her moments of pure joy. Things like reading Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, summer holidays camping, or foraging on the beach for treasures.Once Leisa had the bones of the story she began searching for a local artist to bring her words to life. When she discovered Figtree artist Claudia Shalala, who sells her art work through The Collective in Gerringong and Kiama, she knew she had hit the jackpot.COVID made face-to-face interactions impossible but the pair managed to interpret each other’s ideas and, after four years of toil, create My Favourite Things, which was published earlier this year.“I saw Claudia’s artwork on a Gerringong Community Facebook page and it was exactly what I was looking for,” Leisa says. “We only met once in person, due to COVID, but there was an immediate connection. Her paintings were outstanding, and she really understood my journey as a child. She was able to interpret my memories and her work complemented my story beautifully.”As part of the creative process, the pair would chat and Claudia would draw a quick sketch based on their conversation and send it to Leisa for her tick of approval. Claudia eventually created 10 original acrylic artworks to visually bring Leisa’s words to life.“Every artwork was done very casually through conversations, with Leisa telling me about the things she loved about her childhood, like picking seashells up off the beach,” explains Claudia. “I was given free rein which really works for me, micromanaging does not work with artists.” Both Leisa and Claudia have been following their passion from a young age. Claudia, who has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and works in a lab, has been painting since she was eight. She began selling her work, Emely handmade giftware, at markets 15 years ago and her art “really took off”. “I always tell my kids if you're lucky enough to have a passion and make some money from it you’re winning,” says Claudia. “It brings me so much joy and is a form of therapy.” Leisa, who is also a counsellor, has dreamed of writing her own picture book “for as long as I can remember”. The creative writing process was a “healing journey”.“I have been reading to kids all my life, I love children’s literature and I believe we all have a story to tell,” she says. “We discover as adults that all these precious things we did as children brought us so much joy. The book is a way of showing young readers that love is out there to find. we've just got to open our eyes to find it.” Leisa’s students became her audience through the drafting process and she admits she had a few critics. “I would take samples into classrooms to read to my students, and the feedback was always brutally honest,” she laughs. “One little boy in kindergarten asked me if I had any books about monster trucks, but I was writing from experience and I have no experience of monster trucks! I want to inspire and help children to make connections and discover what touches their hearts. If I’ve touched one heart then I’ve done what I set out to do.”My Favourite Things is available to order on Leisa’s instagram page leisamaree2.

What do Jennifer Robinson, Gina Chick and Tim Minchin have in common? The trio, who all have ties to the South Coast, have helped put Berry Writer’s Festival on the literary map.Robinson, the human rights lawyer who played a key role in freeing Julian Assange earlier this year, and Chick, star of the hit TV show Alone, grew up on the South Coast and are both Bomaderry High school graduates. Their “in conversation sessions” at this weekend’s festival were quick to sell out.Minchin - a world-renowned actor, writer, comedian, musician and poet who has a home in Kangaroo Valley - was a late entry to the festival line-up. When organisers announced the composer of Matilda the musical would join the festival earlier this month, tickets to his event sold out within 24 hours. Minchin and Marc Fennell, host of Things the British Stole, will headline An Evening of Words and Music on October 26.“This is a community-led and community focused event and it’s the locals who are selling out fast,” associate artistic director Tori Haschka said. “We have a wealth of talent on the South Coast which we are proud to showcase through events like this one.”Ms Haschka, herself an author and Berry local, said tickets are still available for many sessions, including writing workshops.“Workshops give people an opportunity to gain insight into industry professionals that they might not otherwise have,” she says. Tickets are also available for an Indigenous food workshop with authors Adam Liaw, Rebecca Sullivan and Damien Coulthard in partnership with chefs from award-winning Shoalhaven Heads restaurant Bangalay Dining. The session will explore modern Australian dining, and look at native ingredients people know and those that are less recognisable.The Berry Writers Festival is a bi-annual celebration of writing and literature held over three days, across four historic venues. The first festival, in October 2022, featured fifty authors and speakers participating in 21 sessions and six workshops over two days. More than 2400 tickets were sold. More than 300 tickets have already been sold for this year's event, which features more than 80 authors and seven workshops.“We have increased the number of sessions and participating authors this year,” Ms Haschka says. “We have also attracted a lot more local partnerships and sponsors and added a children’s program in local schools on Thursday. Ticket sales have been really strong.”Tickets are still available for the festival which runs from October 25-27 berrywritersfestival.org.au.

By A Sense of Place Publishing“Indoctrinated Brain: How to Successfully Fend Off the Global Attack on Your Mental Freedom” by Michael Nehls is a clarion call against what the author perceives as a deliberate and insidious assault on cognitive freedom worldwide. Michael Nehls, a German doctor of medicine with a background in molecular genetics and an avid long-distance cyclist, brings together his scientific acumen and social commentary in this book, which has stirred both intrigue and controversy.Nehls argues that across the globe, there’s a discernible decline in mental capacity, particularly among the youth, coupled with a rise in depression rates. He posits that this decline is not merely coincidental but part of a grander design—a “Global War on the Human Brain.” According to Nehls, this war deploys various mechanisms, including the manipulation of public health crises like the COVID-19 response, to subtly alter human cognition and behaviour.Manipulation Through Fear and Health PoliciesNehls delves into how the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the resistance against broad vitamin D prophylaxis, was not just an oversight but a tactical move to weaken natural immunity. He claims this was done under the guise of health protection, allegedly aiming to make populations more susceptible to indoctrination.The Great Reset and Mental FreedomThe book touches on the concept of the “Great Reset,” suggesting that beyond economic and environmental changes, there’s an underlying agenda for a “Great Mental Reset.” This involves using advanced neuroscientific and informational methodologies to reshape human thought, aligning it with technocratic visions of the future.Historical and Societal ContextNehls draws parallels with historical indoctrination practices, comparing modern societal controls to past regimes’ efforts to shape public thought through fear, propaganda, and control over information.On page 106, Nehls writes, “When the immune system has recovered to some degree after seven to eight months (after being spiked) a cytokine storm is not only possible again, but also even more likely, because the immune system, constantly activated by spiking, has consumed a lot of vitamin D, increasing its deficiency thus the imbalance in the immune system.”“If Dr. Nehls is right, his theory here will be as important as Dr. Sigmund Freud’s discovery of the subconscious, if not more so.” – From the foreword by Naomi Wolf.“The protagonists of the Great Reset use the latest neuroscientific and informational sciences methodology to pursue a motive that derives from their worldview: a Great Mental Reset, so that we accept without hesitation and even welcome the future of a brave new world as envisioned by the elitist technocrats,” Nehls said.“If you want to truly know your enemy, this masterful unmasking of indoctrination is a must-read.” – Monica Crowley, PhD, news analyst and former assistant secretary of the US Treasury.On page eleven, Nehls writes, “…seems to me with the help of the many seemingly isolated events and influences, such as the spreading of fear and panic, the spiking, and the primary measures to contain COVID-19, other intentions were actually pursued: to manipulate people unnoticed on a neurobiological level in order to be able to indoctrinate them more efficiently.”The book has garnered both praise for its bold assertions and criticism for its alignment with fringe theories over established scientific consensus. Michael Nehls’s background in molecular genetics and his previous works on Alzheimer’s disease lend him credibility in some circles, yet his views on public health responses to pandemics and cognitive manipulation have drawn criticism for potentially spreading misinformation. Critics argue that his narrative might cater more to conspiracy theorists than to those seeking academic or scientific discourse on cognitive health.“Indoctrinated Brain” presents a stark warning about the erosion of mental freedom through what Nehls sees as orchestrated global initiatives. While it invites readers to question mainstream health policies and societal controls, it also stands at the intersection of science, philosophy, and speculative social critique, making it a contentious yet undeniably thought-provoking read in the landscape of contemporary literature on freedom, health, and control.