Kirjahaku

About a discovery I made in 1987 concerning 'lubricating & structural body building foods', that are Vegetarian in Nature & I Believe, God Ordained.

A collection of ten stories, variations on a theme: hiding from the truth.The matron who interprets her sexual desire as physical pain, obsessed with one of her nurses to the point of stalking.The father who has liaisons with men at public toilets, and the kid who works out he knows the bloke.The painter who is out but not too proud, not until she's achieved something with her life, and the Auschwitz survivor she must care for in her day job.The mother who tries to find 'the right girl' for her son, only to come face-to-face with his male partner.The daughter who finds her gay uncle on Facebook and confronts her Christian father about his homophobia in one insightful email.The teenager who realises at Bible camp that he's as gay as one of the teachers, and the girl who unwittingly pursues him.The artist who rents a room to his childhood friend, only to face the consequences of the secrets they tease out of one another.The country woman who is not sure if what she sees from her back step is real or not, and the grandson who comes out to her in a postcard.Captured at the crossroads of their lives, these people face choices between extraordinary heroism and cowardice.

One random night in 2004, Michael Burge's long-term partner, choreographer Jonathan Rosten, died suddenly while rehearsing a show. In the midst of the ensuing grief, Jono's relatives started the secret and devastating process of disenfranchising Michael from his position as Jono's next of kin.With his name removed from Jono's death certificate, Michael found himself unable to wrap-up his de-facto partner's affairs; in a legal, ethical and financial 'David and Goliath' battle that was none of his making.Exiled from his own life, facing grief, depression and suicidal thoughts, Michael eventually found the courage to fight back.Along the way he came face-to-face with his own demons, and those of the generation that faced HIV/AIDS and the ensuing legislative no-man's land which saw many de-facto couples disenfranchised by homophobic families.Through asserting his right to grieve the loss of his partner, not only personally, but on a public and legislative level, Michael's story offers a rarely heard, surprising and honest voice for all Australians dealing with loss.Set against a country coming to terms with the human rights and responsibilities of same-sex equality, Questionable Deeds offers one man's argument for marriage equality and why it's a no-brainer for any 21st century nation.

"WRITING IS ABOUT doing the work. Publishing is about even harder work. Marketing and promoting a book is the hardest work most independent publishers will ever do." But Australian journalist and writer Michael Burge (traditionally published author of Tank Water and author/publisher of Questionable Deeds) doesn't want writers to be put off. In this insightful and easy-to-read book, he shares his transition from jobbing journalist to published novelist and memoir publisher.Write Regardless is Michael's no-nonsense guide to plotting, packaging and promoting an independent publication without getting ripped off along the way. Designed for writers who have rejection letters piling up, or those who simply don't want to approach publishers, Write Regardless reveals how to set up a social media platform and manage the publication process; and the benefits of print on demand services.It includes Michael's popular article Writer, resuscitate your manuscript , designed to kickstart stalled writing projects with a fun and analytical approach to storytelling.

In a remote Methodist community of New South Wales in 1852, aspiring lay preacher Charles Muncey is tasked with recording the sins of every soul who signs up for a week-long revival. He has plenty to work with. Pardoned convict Thomas Gunson knows the way through the wilderness and agrees to guide the faithful on a circuit of their struggling chapels, though he fears the company of people now that he's out of his shackles. Irish migr Oona Farry, recruited as a candlemaker, resents the devotion of the women during their ecstatic praising, convinced that God has abandoned her for her lustful secrets. Even righteous hosts Jacob and Anne Temple harbor transgressions they dare not voice. But when Californian preacher Charisma Groom stirs up unbridled repentance during a watchnight mass on the edge of wild country, illicit sex and sudden death come to light. The congregation is ordered to hunt the devil through the ancient Fish River Caves, a dangerous underworld where raptures more powerful than faith are awakened. With nothing but his fledgling moral compass, Muncey must see through blind faith to uncover which member of the flock is a callous killer. This is a bold reimagining of the untold story of the Methodist settlers who colonized Australia's renowned Jenolan Caves during the Frontier Wars.