AustLit

'The astonishing story of James Hardy Vaux, writer of Australia's first dictionary and first true-crime memoir

'If you wear 'togs', tell a 'yarn', call someone 'sly', or refuse to 'snitch' on a friend then you are talking like a convict.

'These words, and hundreds of others, once left colonial magistrates baffled and police confused. So comprehensible to us today, the flash language of criminals and convicts had marine officer Watkin Tench complaining about the need for an interpreter in the colonial court.

'Luckily, by 1811, that man was at hand. James Hardy Vaux - conman, pickpocket, absconder and thief, born into comfortable circumstances in England - was so drawn to a life of crime he was transported to Australia ... not once, but three times!

'Vaux's talents, glibness and audacity were extraordinary, and perceiving an opportunity to ingratiate himself with authorities during his second sentence, he set about writing a dictionary of the criminal slang of the colony, which was recognised for its uniqueness and taken back to England to be published.

'Kel Richards tells Vaux's story brilliantly, with the help of Vaux's own extraordinarily candid memoir of misdeeds - one of the first true-crime memoirs ever published. Kel's book combines two of his favourite subjects: the inventiveness, humour and origins of Australian English, and our history of fabulous, disreputable characters.

'With echoes of The Surgeon of Crowthorne as well as Oliver Twist, Flash Jim is a ripping read - especially for those who appreciate the power of words and the convict contribution to our idiom.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'The year is 1935. Clive Staples Lewis (known to his friends as 'Jack') and his brother Warren ('Warnie') are visiting their friend young Tom Morris at Nesfield Cathedral School - where Jack is to be guest speaker at the school's speech night.They become eyewitnesses to a murder-an impossible murder.They see a man stabbed to death by an unseen assailant, and witness his body fall from the rooftop ...but the body doesn't hit the ground until the following day! Once again Jack's nimble brain is co-opted by the police as they try to explain the seemingly impossible.' (Publication summary)

'The year is 1935. Clive Staples Lewis (known to his friends as “Jack”) and his brother Warren (known as “Warnie”) are visiting their friend young Tom Morris at Nesfield Cathedral School—where Jack is to be guest speaker at the school’s speech night. They become eyewitnesses to a murder—an impossible murder. They see a man stabbed to death by an unseen assailant, and see his body fall from the rooftop... but the body doesn’t hit the ground until the following day! Once again Jack’s nibble brain is co-opted by the police as they try to explain the seemingly impossible.' (Publication summary)

''Down near the Great Australian Bight, There lived a girl called Snowy White. This sad girl lived a nightmare not a dream, Her step-mum was 'the Queen of Mean'!' Snowy White's nasty step-mother loves dialling up the Magic Mirror on her phone to find out who is the fairest in the bush. Until one day, when the Magic Mirror declares Snowy to be the fairest of them all. Will the seven wombats be able to help poor Snowy escape the wrath of the jealous Mean Queen? Find out in this Aussie retelling of the classic story - with a surprising ending! ' (Publication summary)

'Stomp your way through the BIG world of Aussie dinosaurs!

'Discover the wonderful world of prehistoric Australia in this fun book which will entertain and inform all young readers. Includes loads of pictures and facts on every page — and even a pronunciation guide to help kids say all those tricky dino names!' (Publication summary)

'The second instalment in the fun, new detective novel series by Kel Richards where the sleuth is C.S. Lewis, the beloved author of The Chronicles of Narnia. A tale that twists and turns in the tradition of the golden age of English murder mysteries like Agatha Christie and Midsommer Murders. Add Kel’s trademark humour and it’s an entertaining baffler!' (Publication summary)

'Fee, fi, fo, fozzie- I smell the blood of a juicy Aussie. Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread. Will Jacko make it down the beanstalk and escape the angry croc? Find out in this vibrant Aussie retelling of the classic story-complete with an unexpected ending! Plus, watch out for the funny geckos who almost steal the limelight!' (Publication summary)

'A fun, new detective novel by Kel Richards where the sleuth is C.S. Lewis, the beloved author of The Chronicles of Narnia. C. S. Lewis (known to all his friends as “Jack”), his brother Major Warren Lewis (known as “Warnie”) and one of Jack’s students, Tom Morris, are on holiday in the English countryside.When they go to the bank they unwittingly enter a crime scene – a murder has just been committed in the vault. The three out of towners become suspects and must conduct their own investigation to clear their names. C. S. Lewis eventually solves the seemingly impossible crime by applying his razor sharp mind to the subtle clues. A tale that twists and turns in the tradition of the golden age of English murder mysteries like Agatha Christie and Midsommer Murders. Add Kel’s trademark humour and it’s an entertaining baffler!' (Publication summary)