You either lie down and die, or you fight.

In 1938 a knockabout 11-year-old kid from Marrickville, Sydney, is suddenly confronted by mortality. His mother dies. His father has little time for him and at 14 he leaves school to learn a trade.

In 2016 that same boy is a multi-millionaire. He owns - and runs - the Australian Development Corporation, Sydney City Marine, a host of associated companies and countless office and housing blocks. He is also one of the world's most successful sailors, having won Sydney-Hobart races in his Ragamuffin yachts and competed eight times for Australia in the Admiral's Cup. He jointly holds the record for the most America's Cup campaigns - all self-funded and managed personally.

He is Syd Fischer, the Ragamuffin man, and he's known as perhaps the toughest and most uncompromising Australian businessman and sportsman of the past half century. This is the story of Fischer's remarkable life, and of his unrelenting quest to win the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race one more time.

Crashing the Old Boys' Network is the first book to examine the intense, and sometimes hostile, debate about Title IX and its application to girls and women in all areas of athletics. The facts and figures are highlighted by spirited commentary from Billie Jean King, Donna Lopiano, Pat Summitt, Chris Berman, and many others. By using the commentary of well-known personalities and experts in a variety of relevant disciplines, this book uncovers the roots of this controversy at all levels of athletics. While many believe Title IX and gender equity to be applicable only to intercollegiate athletics, its reach touches girls in high school athletics as well. While not protected by Federal law, girls in youth sports, women in professional sports, and women in the sports media also suffer the negative effects of gender discrimination.

While detailing many personal accounts and documenting a host of legal battles, the greatest value in this book lies in the successful examples it provides. Many opponents proclaim Title IX to be a grim reaper for football and men's basketball. The author provides examples demonstrating how Title IX and gender equity can be achieved with rational, well-designed plans of action.

This is a book about the excitement of sailing. The characters, the adventures, the disasters--and the quiet little drink afterwards. No sport generates more anecdotes than ocean racing. It's a world rich in bizarre incidents, outrageous behavior, intense camaraderie, and engaging humor Yachting yarns are the wellspring of a unique folklore that stretches back more than a century. All Piss and Wind celebrates that free-wheeling, larrikin spirit. The author, David Salter, is Australia's leading columnist and feature writer on the sport of offshore sailing. Salter draws on a treasure-trove of stories and lifetime of personal involvement. He provides a first hand, deck-eye view of a world where the line between fun and survival can be perilously thin. All Piss and Wind carries the conviction of experience and the authority of knowledge--all enlivened by the author's sure ear for humor.

This book is about a real life account of the British moving to France to live. It is the actual nitty gritty, an honest exposure of the subsistence and conditions which face ex-pats, or immigrants abroad, if you are one who prefers a definition unrelated to colonial expressions. The tale reveals that the reality of life is far removed from that portrayed on the siren screen of the television, often shown as a sun soaked escape into a picture postcard cottage close to a pretty village, with the natives delighted by your presence and fawning for your favour. This story is based on the genuine experiences of two Brits who tried the good life for themselves. Although they have no regrets, they entered into a world where the actuality went far beyond the daydream. If you are thinking of moving to France, you must read this. If you are thinking of just visiting France, then do read it anyway, to acquire a greater understanding of the people you may encounter. For those who do not understand the French, then reading is even more essential. For those who do not understand the British, we do sincerely hope that the central character in this account, 'Derek', does not confuse you any further. In truth, it may be fair to say that the fact that he and his wife remain in France may have more to do with the tolerance of his adopted community than with his own social and diplomatic abilities Although this account is based on absolute truth, you should be aware that many of the names have been changed in the hope that we may avoid libel.

A play based on the works of O.Henry and Al Jennings
Buried in the depths of the Ohio Penitentiary, the cruelest prison in American history, an inmate known as The Smilemaker keeps his brothers' spirits buoyant and their hopes of survival alive with stories of love and sacrifice amongst the tenements and theatres of Manhattan.
Leaping from the shadows bursts a throng of colourful characters including a delirious pair of tap-dancing lovers, a hitman disguised as Santa Claus and a Central Park tramp who, try as he might, can't get himself arrested.
From burlesque to ragtime, from Hell's Kitchen to Fifth Avenue, this collection of sharp, witty and highly moving stories will be sure to make you smile.
Broadway in the Shadows opened at the Grand Theatre de Luxembourg in September 2006, followed by performances at London's Arcola Theatre.